We are leaving Easter Season and going back to Ordinary Time. In our calendar the saints are muted in Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter seasons in order to explore the mystery of Jesus Christ. Like Sundays, the saints do not take first place on these days.
The saints come marching in during Ordinary Time. Our yearly calendar features saints from different times and places because God works in different times and places, however it might seem. God works through saints.
Our recent celebration of the memorial of St. Philip Neri (May 25) is a good example. He lived a remarkably joyful life in 16th century Rome, a city engulfed in the scandals of the papacy and cries for reform. Along with other saints, like Ignatius Loyola, he brought hope and reform to the church of his time.
The trend in hagiography – the study of the saints – is to see them in the world that was theirs, which helps us live in the world that’s ours.“From their place in heaven, they guide us still.” (Preface of the Apostles) They shaped their world. We must do that too.
Contemporary studies of the saints also recognize saints weren’t perfect. They were part the political, social, intellectual and religious worlds they lived in. Still, more than today’s celebrities—the media darlings of our time, more than political or business figures, the saints shaped their world. We must do that too.
We need their wisdom and example today.
The saints point to an unfolding plan of God. In a few days we will be celebrating the feast of St. Justin, Martyr. (June 1) Justin was not only an early martyr for his faith, he was also a philosopher who enlisted reason to defend the faith. He’s a witness to God’s plan to embrace reason in our search meaning. A long line of philosophers follow him.
We celebrate St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, African martyrs, (June 3) who point to the expansion of the church in Africa in recent times. St. Boniface (June 5) was the apostle to the Germanic people and instrumental in changing the face of Europe.
There are many saints in our church. Those who revised our calendar of saints after the Second Vatican Council recognized there are some saints more important than others for understanding our developing church. So they designated the feasts of the more important saints as memorials. Others are optional memorials. For some nations or religious communities or individuals these remembered in optional memorials may be important, but saints honored by memorials need to be especially singled out and celebrated in our liturgy.
In our liturgy now the saints are marching in.
This touches home: “as one gets older, we are tempted to sadness, knowing life as it is here on earth, the suffering, the Cross. And how we must overcome it daily, growing in love, and the joy which goes with loving” Little children bring so much joy with their innocence and trust. They also bring hope of a future, a better future. I remember my mom’s sad eyes as she got older and I try to be around young people, and little children. I have not read many books on the saints but know some of their stories from having listened to people who are devoted to them or listening to EWTN affiliates as our own Domestic Church Media in the Diocese of Trenton. I did read St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s letters to her spiritual director in “Come Be My Light”. Very touching and admirable; what a strong faith and commitment to her Lord! And who could forget St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower. Such child-like love for her Lord! Another one I read cover to cover. Thank you Fr. Victor.