Every Saint Has a Past and Every Sinner has a Future

We were invited to watch an advanced screening of the movie, "There Be Dragons." It is a film that reflected on the life of St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei.  The setting was during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, where facists and communists were against each other. Caught up in between was the Church of which priests were killed and churches were burned.  The movie also highlighted the life of his friend, Manolo, who lived a sinful life, but finding redemption in the end. One of it's main messages was a quote from Oscar Wilde, "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."

There is a saint in all of us.  I don't think the saints asked, "Lord please make me a saint."  I think that for them it was a day to day decision of following Christ and obeying him until death.  Many of our Saints were also great sinners.  We have St. Paul who ordered the execution of St. Stephen. We have St. Matthew, who was a tax collector.  St. Augustine prior to his conversion joined a heretical sect called Manicheans.  Yet, the Lord, by His grace called them and they responded to God's call and were transformed by His love.  There are over 10,000 named saints and beati from history, the Roman Martyology and Orthodox sources, but no definitive "head count" (catholic.org). Let us praise God for Saints who help us in the following:

1. Intercessory Prayers
We pray with the saints in heaven. We ask them to intercede for us. In the same way, we pray for others also who requests us for prayers.  We have heard of numerous accounts of miracles wherein prayers were answered through a Saint's intercession.  I visited the the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal where I saw literally hundreds of crutches left by those who miraculously prayed through the intercession of St. Joseph.

2. Patrons as examples and guide
We have heard about patron saints. Patron saints are chosen as special protectors or guardians over areas of life. These areas can include occupations, illnesses, churches, countries, causes -- anything that is important to us. The earliest records show that people and churches were named after apostles and martyrs as early as the fourth century (catholic.org). Our patron saints help us in our growth as Christians as we reflect on their examples.  We relate to them. It makes us think that if he or she who is human like us can do it, so can we, by God's grace.  Their life inspires us and strengthens our convictions.

In the coming All Saints Day, let us honor the faithful who have walked this earth before us. Let us call upon the help of thousands of angels, saints, and martyrs who will pray for us to our Lord Jesus.  We need all the prayers we can get so we can truly live as Christ's follower in our daily lives. Sinners as we are, God looks upon our saintly potential.  St. Josemaria Escriva, pray for us.