Who then are these mysterious friends that we call saints? The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines a saint as “the ‘holy one’ who leads a life in union with God through the grace of Christ and receives the reward of eternal life.” (CCC 898) The saints then are those men and women who, despite their sinfulness, brokenness and fears, choose to put all their faith and hope in God and to live only for him. Some of the saints lived very long lives, while others died young. Some of the saints were highly intelligent, while others couldn’t even read. Some of the saints were quite busy, proclaiming Christ and serving him in various apostolic endeavors, while others lived in solitude, never traveled and barely spoke to anyone.
Despite these external differences the saints all have one thing in common: A burning love for Jesus Christ and the desire to live only for him. If we truly desire to live as God intends, and hopefully we all do, how can we not love and admire these men and women who have so courageously and generously loved God without limits? Despite what some may believe, honoring the saints and developing a friendship with them is not a hindrance or an obstacle to our relationship with Christ.
For it is these dear friends of ours who, through their own life and example, reveal to us more deeply the mystery and beauty of Jesus Christ and show us how to follow him despite our own human limitations. Thus, the saints reveal themselves to us as trustworthy guides and teachers, and those whose friendship we would be wise to cultivate.
