Today, in Catholic news, two popes, Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, canonized (declared saints) two popes, St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II. A very rare, very cool day. It's also the feast of Divine Mercy, the day we celebrate the Mercy of Jesus, and declare "Jesus, I trust in You!".
Anyway, I was thinking (dangerous, I know). When some of the great saints were alive, did they have any idea they were on the path to sainthood? I mean, there are so many saints who did and experienced miraculous things. They HAD to have known, right? I mean, there's St. Padre Pio, who received the stigmata, and could bilocate (literally be in two places at once). There's saints who literally saw and spoke to Jesus &/ Mary. There's others that could levitate while praying. How did they react when they realized they were becoming saints? Did it make them more humble? More modest? More eager to serve? Did they worry they would somehow screw it up, and end up not being a saint? Did they just want to sit and marvel and the Love and Grace that God was bestowing on them? I wonder. Then there's other saints who were cranky, and I'm pretty sure it's St. Nicholas (where we get the legend of Santa Claus from) who used to punch heretics in the face (I'm like 90% sure it was St. Nicholas, but I know it was one of the saints if not him). I love that image - Santa punching heretics...LOL Did the cranky saints know they were becoming saints too? Or were they pleasantly surprised when they arrived in Heaven?
How would it affect you, to one day realize you were becoming a saint? After all, we are all called to be saints, and to love and serve God with our entire beings. Most of us go about our lives, doing the best we can, hoping for Heaven, never really knowing for certain where we'll end up until we die. But for those who experience the extraordinary...
Just some food for thought.
Dana
How can you not be certain where you'll end up when you die? If you believe in Jesus Christ and that he died for your sins, you're saved, so why the uncertainty?
ReplyDeleteBecause nowhere in the Bible does it indicate or outright say that we are saved by faith alone. In fact, it says in multiple places exactly the opposite, that we are justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24), that faith without works is dead (James 2:26), and others found in Galatians 5:6, 1 Corinthians 13:2, John 14:15, Matthew 7:21, and Matthew 19:16-17. There are others as well, but that's a good start. Even St. Paul says (I forget exactly where, forgive me) that he is unaware of any serious sins he has committed, but that he leaves the judging of his soul to God.
ReplyDeleteWe can hope for Heaven, and trust in the Love and Mercy of Jesus, but we reserve judgement of our souls for God alone.