When I was a little girl, I liked to read about the lives of the saints. In the Catholic church, saints are seen, not as supernatural beings, but as ordinary people who struggled to live according to God's will. By God's grace they were able to serve and understand more than others. They are not to be worshiped themselves, but they can be seen as intermediaries and mentors when we pray or struggle.
Many vocations have more than one patron saint. As a painter, I appreciate the lives and understanding of St Luke and St Catharine of Bologna. As a mother, I find strength and encouragement in the life of St Monica. She was dealt a challenging family that included the now famous St. Augustine. As American catholic.org notes, our modern life looks for immediate answers and solutions. Monica did exactly the opposite; she trusted the Lord and prayed unceasingly for her family. In the end, her husband and mother-in-law accepted God and her son became a revered theologian and follower of Christ.
St Francis is another favorite of mine. I admire him because he loved all of God's creatures. Francis said, " Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission-to be of service to them wherever they require it." Regarding spiritual life he stated, "Preach the gospel at all times, use words if necessary." Such a practical, functional approach to spirituality is refreshing.
It is encouraging to read the stories of those who have gone before us. If you are looking for a good book on saints pick up "My Life With the Saints" by James Martin, SJ. It is a highly readable and personal look at the influence of saints on one man's life and vocation. We are not the first to make this journey. We are not alone when we stumble and fall. We are NOT exempt from the journey, but we can do a little research. We can make our journey just a little more mindful. Safe travels.
Many vocations have more than one patron saint. As a painter, I appreciate the lives and understanding of St Luke and St Catharine of Bologna. As a mother, I find strength and encouragement in the life of St Monica. She was dealt a challenging family that included the now famous St. Augustine. As American catholic.org notes, our modern life looks for immediate answers and solutions. Monica did exactly the opposite; she trusted the Lord and prayed unceasingly for her family. In the end, her husband and mother-in-law accepted God and her son became a revered theologian and follower of Christ.
St Francis is another favorite of mine. I admire him because he loved all of God's creatures. Francis said, " Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission-to be of service to them wherever they require it." Regarding spiritual life he stated, "Preach the gospel at all times, use words if necessary." Such a practical, functional approach to spirituality is refreshing.
It is encouraging to read the stories of those who have gone before us. If you are looking for a good book on saints pick up "My Life With the Saints" by James Martin, SJ. It is a highly readable and personal look at the influence of saints on one man's life and vocation. We are not the first to make this journey. We are not alone when we stumble and fall. We are NOT exempt from the journey, but we can do a little research. We can make our journey just a little more mindful. Safe travels.
 |
| St Luke |
 |
| St Nicholas |
No comments:
Post a Comment