Above all, always see Jesus in every person, and consequently treat each one not only as an equal and as a brother or sister, but also with great humility, respect and selfless generosity. - St. Charles Foucauld
Last Saturday, 14 May 2022, ten people were canonized at Saint Peter’s in the Vatican. Most of the saints canonized I was not familiar with, but I did recognize two of them—Titus Brandsma and Charles Foucauld. Being somewhat familiar with them I googled Pope Francis’ homily to see what he had to say about these new saints, not just the two I was familiar with. What stood out most in his homily was that being a saint is in reach of all of us because “our Christian lives begin not with doctrine and good works, but with the amazement born of realizing that we are loved,.” This, Francis stressed, is our identity and strength—that we are loved by God.
This paragraph from the Pope’s homily gets to the core of how holiness is attainable for all, not just by those holy folks who were canonized Saints last week: Acknowledging this truth [that we are loved freely and unconditionally by God] requires a conversion in the way we often think of holiness. At times, by over-emphasizing our efforts to do good works, we have created an ideal of holiness excessively based on ourselves, our personal heroics, our capacity for renunciation, our readiness for self-sacrifice to achieve a reward...We have turned holiness into an unattainable goal. We have separated it from everyday life, instead of looking for it and embracing it in our daily routines, in the dust of the streets, in the trials of real life and, in the words of Teresa of Avila to her Sisters, “among the pots and pans.” Being disciples of Jesus and advancing on the path of holiness means first and foremost letting ourselves be transfigured by the power of God’s love. Let us never forget the primacy of God over self, of the Spirit over the flesh, of grace over works.
Showcasing SHA talent: Julian from 6th shows us that the Saints were wise to let God’s love live in their hearts.
God bless,
Mrs. Alhadef
Campus Minister
4th Grade Aide
Jr. High ELA Aide