Saints point the way

We likely all have our favorite saint: our namesake, the saint we chose for confirmation or a saint to whom we reach out due to a specific need. Saints are a staple of the Catholic Church. Nov. 1 was All Saints’ Day (which we celebrated this year at our Sunday liturgy, rather than making a special return to our churches for Mass, on what in other years is a holy day of obligation). With this day, we annually reflect on our devotion to these holy and venerable human beings who provide a map for living a life dedicated to God.

I had the privilege to hear the deacon of a local parish explain that saints are not saints because of the actions they took, but rather because they said “yes” to God. How often do we miss this fundamental point of sainthood? The “yes” they gave to God in response to a deep desire in their hearts, one they had come to distinguish as God’s voice speaking directly to them, is how God used these normal human beings in extraordinary ways.

You have probably heard the play on words: We’re “human beings,” not “human doings.” How often do we get caught up in becoming “human doings,” going about the tasks of life with little real investment of our presence in relationships: “I’m here, fulfilling the tasks set before me, doing my best,” and doing this all from a distracted demeanor.

That is not the way to sainthood. Sainthood is about being present, first and foremost with our Lord in prayer. It’s discerning his voice in our heads and hearts, and following his direction faithfully, even when it does not make sense. In fact, when we look at the saints, their actions could more often be seen as foolish, rather than wise. Look at the life of any saint and you see actions that could be mistaken for folly. Sometimes we want to ask, “What were they thinking?!”

And that is the very point here. They were thinking of saying “yes” to God, rather than the outcome of their actions. They left the outcome to God, knowing that God’s ways are perfect and beyond our ways, and that he sees all of life very differently than we see life. Saints are more concerned about being obedient to God’s word and directive in their hearts and minds, as they align their wills with his will and simply respond to what they believe he is saying to them about the actions he wants them to take.

I would ask you to think of any saint this month and put them through this “sieve of sainthood” to see for yourself if it is not true. When I taught middle school and high school religion, I found a quote that simply read: “Saints map out the holiness of their master.” Their master, of course, is Jesus.

During this month of saints, let each of us take time for prayer, asking God to give us the grace to listen to his directive in our hearts and minds and to follow the deep desires of our hearts. Let us each work on the holy skill of discernment, and as Jesuit Father David Lonsdale explains, we must follow consolation rather than desolation when we are listening for God’s will through the practice of discernment.

We are all called to be saints. We will move more closely to this reality through his grace and our willingness to say “yes” to him. Make a commitment to set aside time for prayer this month and ask God to speak clearly to you, quickening the holy desire deep in your heart to serve him. We will be like the disciples on the road back to Jerusalem from Emmaus as we will say, “Were not our hearts burning within us?” (Lk 24: 32).

Soucheray is a licensed marriage and family therapist emeritus and a member of St. Ambrose of Woodbury. She holds a master’s degree in theology from The St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul and a doctorate in educational leadership from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.