Sunday, November 22, 2015

Thanks

As we enter Thanksgiving Week here in the United States, I felt like it was the appropriate time to say thank you to all my fellow Catholic bloggers out there. I learn so much from your posts, stories, and teachings.

I also wanted to give special thanks to those that take the time to stop here and leave a comment or two.  It is very thoughtful, and generous, and it means a lot to me.

My prayers go out to all of you, and I ask that you join me in praying that people remember to start their Thanksgiving day at Mass, or at least by remembering to thank our Lord first and foremost for the wondrous gifts he has given us.

God Bless you.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Sinners who become Saints

I've had this topic for a post in my head ever since All Saints Day, but just haven't had a chance to get it on paper screen.  (Apologies for not posting in a few weeks!)

As I went through Mass on All Saints Day, I was reminded of one of the most inspiring facts about our Faith.  Namely that some of the most Blessed people we have ever read about were once sinners just like us.  

Sometimes even worse!

Take for example St. Augustine.  Despite being the son of another Saint (St. Monica), he was quite the pagan in his early days.  He partied, followed the teachings of Plato, and had a son with a mistress.  Yet, he turned back to Christ, became a Doctor of the Church, and one of our most influential Saints.

St. Mary of Egypt was a prostitute for years.  St. Olga murdered many people and sold others into slavery.  Saint David the King committed adultery.  

And let's not forget that even the great St. Paul had Christians killed before converting.

I could go on and on, but my goal is not to list out all the sins that these Holy people have committed.  Rather it is to share a few extreme examples as inspiration.  

One of the most beautiful things about our Faith is that we have these people to admire and emulate.  However, often times, the distance between them and us feels insurmountable.  Almost as if they were a different species entirely.  

But they weren't.  They were human just like you and I, and had failings just like you and I. 

Yet, look at what they became, and the many people they inspired.  

We can do the same through Christ.

We, too, can be Saints.