THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN

November 19, 2006

The Good News

...Called To Be Saints!

Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in reflecting on his conversion, attributed it to the stories of the lives of the saints he read.  As a professional soldier, he preferred reading about battles and bravery and exciting military stories.  His interest in the lives of the saints occurred somewhat by default.  As an avid reader, he could not get enough of the "battle books" whereas the lives of the saints were readily available.  It was then that he noticed the contrasting results of his reading.  After reading the battle stories, he became saddened.  But, after reading the lives of the saints, he was filled with happiness and peace.  He was inspired by the saints lives, their words, their actions and their witness.  He followed their example and he too became a saint!

Saints are those who live in the presence of God, united with Him totally and forever.  This is also the ultimate biblical definition of the human person.  The Word of God tells us that we were created in the Image and Likeness of God so that we might come to know, love and serve God here on earth, then be happy with Him forever in heaven.  Thus the plan of God for all human beings is that we live here on earth as pilgrims preparing to meet God “face to face” and remain with Him forever in heaven as His Saints.

Each of us therefore is called by God to become a saint.  In order to help us do this, God offers us countless daily blessings.  Among these are the examples of the saints themselves.  In their lives and their struggles we see the grace of God at work in situations similar to ours.  We see that people of all backgrounds and circumstances have become saints.  It is far from an exclusive club.  Every human being is called to become a saint.  Sanctity is the fulfillment of human life.  It is for this end that God created us in His own Image and Likeness.

On a recent visit with our seminarians at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, I reminded them of the great opportunity they have to increase their devotion to the saints.  Four American saints are buried in that area.  These are people who lived and worked there in their life time.  I urged the seminarians to make a prayerful pilgrimage to the tombs of these saints.

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, an Italian immigrant, was the first American citizen to be canonized.  She is buried in New York.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was a wife, a mother, a teacher and the foundress of a religious community.  She is the first native-born American canonized.  She is buried in Emmitsburg, Md.

Saint John Neumann was a Redemptorist priest.  He came to the United States as a missionary to work among poor people.  He became the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia where he died caring for the sick.  He is buried in Philadelphia.

Saint Katharine Drexel, a very wealthy socialite, gave her entire fortune away.  She labored relentlessly to help African Americans and Native American people throughout the United States.  Her efforts extended especially to the southeast and the central region of our country.  She came here to Oklahoma and opened schools, churches and ministries across our state.  She is buried in Bensalem, Penn.

Many books and articles have been written about these American saints and about saints of all times and all places.  Today, through the use of the Internet, public and private libraries and many book stores, the lives of canonized saints are readily available to all of us.  What a wonderful opportunity for us to become familiar with them.  Remember — we too are called to be saints.