You don't have to be perfect to be saint.

Today, the Memorial of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr. Who Saint Blaise was, we already know. I wrote about him a year ago. Today, when I think about the life of Saint Blaise, I think that I also want to be a saint.

You hear "saint" and you think, what? Maybe you think, it's definitely not for me or that the threshold of haven is too high? Spiritual development is not about perfectionist climbing, but about going deep into oneself to meet God. We can often have the idea that to develop spiritually means to climb, to achieve more, faster and better. Maybe you wondered more than once whether you need to give a good impression, also to be the spiritual, prayerful one, to deserve heaven.

Meanwhile, the spiritual development of a Christian is not only about multiplying knowledge and developing the intellect, spending whole days in church, or acquiring new competences as in corporations, it is not even about transcending and proving something to oneself, but it is about going deep into oneself and discovering the hidden source of God's presence in us. The path to holiness consists, among other things, in gradually leaving one's idealistic visions in order to spread one's wings, to stop being a masked warrior and to become a defenseless child in the tender arms of the Merciful God.

To be holy is simply to be what one was created to be. Not to be holy is against nature. To be holy means to be "whole", uniform, made one whole. We are whole, when there is unity and harmony between the different levels of our being, when the inner life blossoms and reveals its radiance outward. Being a complete human being is not only about ordering the outer layer of our personality, but above all about discovering the depths of our being and letting it emerge and fill us Whole.

The transformation begins in our baptism and sows in us the seed of transfiguration. However, this seed must germinate and grow, and we are responsible for this growth. As we faithfully allow ourselves to be guided by the Spirit, we are increasingly shaped into the image of the Lord and become transformed people. Transfiguration is a gift and a task.

However, transformation will not happen in us if we worry about whether we are "fiery" or not. We will be transformed when, in faith, looking at the divine glory of Jesus, we look at everything through its prism, we will wake up from our self-absorption and see how His glory surrounds us from all sides.

Is it unreal to live in which everything is light, happiness, blessing and joy? There will never be perfection here on earth, we know that very well. And yet it is possible to be so transformed inwardly that heavenly life will penetrate more and more our whole person in the midst of our daily affairs and duties. Maybe not everyone assumes that they will get there during their earthly life, but it is worth being focused on it and striving for this goal, because a part of it is always present for everyone who is going the right way. God also constantly sends his messengers to bear witness to such a life; people who, perhaps in a special way, are endowed with the grace to encourage us along the way.

Holy people are beautiful. They can delight us and awaken the desire to also live beautifully. They show us how to live faith, in friendship with God, how God's grace can transform and ennoble our humanity, make our likeness to God visible. The example of the saints – Pope Benedict XVI said – can help us "to awaken in ourselves a great desire to be like the saints – happy to live close to God, in his light, in the great family of God's friends". This is what we are all called to do. It is also worth remembering that the saints, who now have direct access to God, can ask for us the necessary graces.

"Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Saint Blaise, pray for us.

Thought from Saint Faustina: “My Jesus, You know that from my earliest years I have wanted to become a great saint; that is to say, I have wanted to love You with a love so great that there would be no soul who has hitherto loved You so.” (Diary 1372

Jesus said to Saint Faustina: “This firm resolution to become a saint is extremely pleasing to Me. I bless your efforts and will give you opportunities to sanctify yourself. Be watchful that you lose no opportunity that My providence offers you for sanctification. If you do not succeed in taking advantage of an opportunity, do not lose your peace, but humble yourself profoundly before Me and, with great trust, immerse yourself completely in My mercy. In this way, you gain more than you have lost, because more favor is granted to a humble soul than the soul itself asks for”. (Diary 1361)

Until Tomorrow

fr. george