Is sainthood actually attainable? Do we have to be superheroes? Do we have to wait for Pope Francis to officially call us one?
At a recent funeral I attended for a sweet five year old boy, a priest provided a homily with telling words expressing the idea of sainthood. And his description of sainthood reminded me of the “little way” of St. Therese of Lisieux:
“When we are born, we have a mission regardless of how long we live on earth. Live and embrace your mission on earth and in heaven. This little boy is already a saint. Based on his interests, talents, likes and dislikes one can determine what he is the patron saint of. He is so close to Jesus and His Mother now. Along with the help of the Blessed Mother and Jesus, we can look to him as a friend in heaven.”
St. Therese taught us that sainthood can come from the “little way” of doing kind little things each day to grow in virtue, grow closer to God, and discover and live out one’s holy mission.
At Regina Mater, we pray beyond our school for all people to know and love God during daily chapel. Through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, our children have opportunities daily to uncover their mission (or “cosmic task”) while doing little works: contemplation in action as they repeat the words and gestures of Mass; quiet meditation on the words of Christ; loving care for the people and the materials in the atrium. Just as the tiny mustard seed grows into the greatest of all trees, with time and God’s grace, these smallest gestures can make an enormous difference to our souls, blossoming into quiet sainthood.