How to be holy, according to Christ

Monday, October 30, 2023

Jose Antonio Varela Vidal

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It is a consubstantial part of the Church to present the figures of the saints as models of life. We must recognize that we have received this practice from Jesus Christ himself.

During his time on earth, he showed us examples to imitate, as he did when he said that "among those born of women, no one is greater" than John the Baptist. Or when he recognized the apostle Nathanael as "a true Israelite; there is no duplicity in him."

Let us remember when he highlighted Mary's prayerful and contemplative disposition, as someone who chose "the better part." He also praised the Roman centurion, stating that "in no one in Israel have I found such faith." So much so, that day after day before taking Communion, we repeat the phrase, said by an incipient Christian and which had such an impact on Jesus: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof...".

Without trying to exhaust all the examples or allusions that Christ made to models of holiness, let us remember that even on the cross he had the opportunity to point out to us different paths of fidelity and conversion. John, his apostle, was the only one to whom he gave his mother, for not having been frightened, but for remaining at the foot of the cross until the end.

And Christ himself admitted to paradise the most public sinner known in the Gospels, the so-called "good thief," today venerated as St. Dismas, having canonized him for repenting and believing publicly in the Messiah announced by the prophets.

Seeing these examples, highlighted by Jesus himself, as models for the holiness sought by the believer, how can we not feel compelled to elevate the lives of holiness of those who preceded us in the faith?

Although there have been churches and new religious groups that have tried to make us feel ashamed of venerating the saints, believers have been able to ignore such arguments, while recognizing and correcting any excess in the devotion to the saints. Therefore, with a proper veneration of the saints, we can not only have them as intercessors, but also as models of life.

How much it helps those who are about to go on mission to read the oblation of the missionary saints; or those who are about to begin their priestly or pastoral ministry to draw from the teachings of the holy shepherds! In addition, those who are elected to high government positions can read how the great founders of congregations and apostolic works did it. Even in modern ministries, such as social communication and information technology, there are already saints, blessed and venerable, whose lives are full of faith and courage.

There are many lives of saints whose footsteps parents, educators, politicians, military men and women, young people and even children can follow. We can add those who sanctified themselves through their illness and whose lives are a consolation for those who have had to carry their cross and are bedridden with pain and suffering. It is evident that knowing the story of the sacrifice of the holy martyrs will fill with courage those who are being persecuted, tortured or imprisoned today because of their faith. Take, for example, Pakistan, Nicaragua, Nigeria, India and China, among others.

I heard a holy bishop say that the role of the saints can be better understood by contemplating the varied and colorful stained-glass windows in churches, since they let the sunlight shine through. So too with our saints and blessed: They let the light of God shine through their exemplary lives.