Communion of Saints
Just the other day I attended daily Mass at a small parish in a town nearby my family. There were 5 people present at the Mass: the priest, three women, and myself. A thought came to me as we were going to Holy Communion. I had never met these three other women before. I knew absolutely nothing about them. What if I were in the presence of saints? I began to wonder, how many of the Saints that we have devotion to, were known to be as holy and heroic as we see them.
I recently finished reading the biography of Bl. Miriam Teresa, and to many of her Sisters, she was just another novice trying her best to live out her vocation. Very few people were privileged to know the greatness of her soul before she died. Sister Miriam Teresa wrote a series of conferences, which her spiritual director presented to the Sisters on a weekly basis. It wasn't until after her death that it was made known to the community (and even her novice directress!) that she was the author of the weekly conferences. With such humility, her sanctity was often concealed.
Could this be true of our neighbors as well? Would we act differently if we knew we were standing behind St. Agnes in the Communion line, or sitting next to St. Francis de Sales at Mass? How could we live up to our calling if we knew we were in the presence of the Saints during Holy Mass, meals, work, and recreation? At first, one may feel completely unworthy: How can I stand next to St. Kateri or St. Gemma to receive Holy Communion? Their hearts were on fire with love for Jesus, and I can be so tepid! And yet, wouldn't those same Saints, who were human just like me, beckon me forward to share in the same treasure that they drew strength from while on earth?
In the conclusion of the Bl. Miriam Teresa's biography, the author quotes a passage about the Saints:
“Oh, did we but understand the saints, the greatness of their influence with God, the wondrousness of their power even when they remain unknown..., our most ardent desire would be that of seeing such souls multiplied in the Church. We should then call upon God with tears to grant the world (which, especially in our day, is in such sore need of them) these burning and shining lights which dispel the darkness, rekindle faith, and turn lukewarmness into zeal; these [servants] who know how to do God's work and who labor with such marvelous success for their Master's glory and the salvation of [souls].”
Let us allow the Saints to awaken us from our “treacherous sleep of our tepidity” so that we too can follow their example, lead our brothers and sisters to Christ, and be another “manifestation of Divine Love” in this world. Let's be saints.
