As I prayed our pilgrim prayer today the line that stuck out to me was "...in the company of your faithful people..." I had dinner last night with one of my best friends and her husband. They are very wonderful, holy people, and one of my favorite things about hanging out with them is that they love to talk about the Catholic faith and the church (they are evangelical Christians). One of the things they asked me about yesterday was the saints--they wondered if there were some I knew about, if I had studied them, how I approached them, and they shared that they really liked the idea of the saints and all of their inspirational stories. I am sure I gave them way more than they anticipated hearing... I basically exploded stories about St. Therese, St. Francis, St. Catherine, St. Gianna, every St. Elizabeth I know...
The discussion made me so grateful for the communion of saints. We are so blessed by their examples, and their prayers and we don't even realize it! We do not walk this pilgrim's path alone, not by a long shot. We are surrounded, and lifted up by the beautiful saints. Even when our earthly friends and family members don't spur us on to holiness, or when we are physically alone, they are there interceding for us. It gives me courage and joy and hope to know that we are in such good company this Lent, and always.
Liz,
ReplyDeleteI remember once you talked about a book that was about the Saints' lives and I can't remember what it was called. Do you have any idea what I am talking about? :) Also, I specifically remember the class on Saints when I was going through RCIA for Colleen as she was preparing to enter the Church. I just remember leaving that class with such a feeling of peace and comfort. Like all the Saints had their arms around me and were in Communion with me. Such a wonderful blessing.
The book is called My Life with the Saints by George Martin (a Jesuit) and I love that book :)
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