A 25th Sunday after Pentecost Thought About Striving to Be a Saint

We're going to take a stab at striving to be a saint on this 25th Sunday after Pentecost.

Last Sunday recalled that November is the month devoted to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. And we connected the Holy Souls with the saints - those in Heaven. They are, in a certain sense, saints in transition. No matter how much they may suffer before they are "cleared" for entrance into Heaven, they know they will get there.

Quite a consolation, don't you think? Indeed, could there be any greater consolation for a soul that has endured life in this Vale of Tears with all its difficulties and suffering, to know with certainty that its reward is assured?

In addition, Abbot Columba Marmion laid out the "varieties" of saints. He outlined many different types of persons who have become saints with specific examples. Perhaps we found one of these similar to ourselves.

Here we find one of our "regulars" - Father Willie Doyle - struggling against his own shortcomings. We include the entry from his diary as well as the commentary accompanying it. It requires no further comment, but should encourage all of us less-than-saintly folks working our way towards Heaven. 

This evening I had a dispute with Father B. Instead of giving in to his wishes and allowing him to remain in the dugout I lost my temper and said bitter things. This has humbled me very much, showing me how far I am from having to meek spirit of Christ and my unwillingness to be “walked on”. Jesus insists on these things: (1) that I must let him do whatever he likes with me, without even an interior complaint; (2) that I must give myself up absolutely into the hands of everybody to be trampled on; this means that, as far as possible, I must always do their will instead of my own; (3) that no matter how unfairly or unjustly I am treated, I must never complain or answer back, but meekly submit in silence; (4) that all criticism of others and of their actions must cease; (5) that I must never speak uncharitably of people nor tell them what they may have done. Jesus wishes me to be dirt, a worm, a doormat, to be kicked and walked on by everybody, so that pride may be stamped out of me.

COMMENT: It is not certain who Father B. is in this extract from Fr Willie’s private diaries. It would appear not to have been Fr Frank Browne as it seems the two did not meet until December 1916.

We find in this excerpt evidence of Fr Willie’s ongoing battle against his dominant defect. We don’t know the circumstances in which Fr Willie lost his temper, nor do we know the pressure he was under at the time, nor do we know how serious this loss of composure was. But we do know that he immediately repented and resolved to continue his fight to acquire virtue in this area. It is not the one who never falls who is the saint – we all fall in one way or another. But it is the one who keeps getting up, keeps persevering and trusting in God who will win the victory. Fr Willie kept up the battle to overcome his defects and grow in love for God and others right to the very end of his life.

(Source: https://williedoyle.org/1-november-1916-fr-willie-continues-to-battle-his-dominant-defect/)

 

Happy 25th Sunday after Pentecost!