"I feel a longing and a need to be a Saint. I did not know it was so easy to be one, but now I see that one can be holy and happy too. I feel I simply must be a Saint." St. Dominic

Do you have a longing and a need to be a Saint? Isn't that the purpose of our existence? It is not just to live and die, but to live and die in Christ, so that you may be with him forever. What is the obstacle to being a Saint? Isn't it lack of love for God and being in the bondage of sin? Isn't a lie that says you can't be a Saint because you are unworthy? The first step to being a Saint is to repent and turn our life over to the Lord, to choose him above all and to live in and with him now in the present moment. The journey is hard only to those who say it is. But if my desire to be a Saint is real, then I, with the help of God's grace, will take the necessary steps. 

 "No matter how just your words may be, you ruin everything when you speak with anger." St. John Chrysostom

There is just anger, such as Jesus had in the cleansing of the Temple. There is unjust anger, such as lashing out at another, forgetting his dignity and self worth before the Lord. We are called to correct the misdeeds of others in love and not in anger, in patience not in venting our frustrations. Anyone can lose his temper and say harsh and belittling words; it takes a person in control of his passions to speak the truth in love. Anger may make us feel good but it doesn't make the other feel worthwhile. Anger is like pouring salt on a wound. It doesn't promote healing. Words said in love and concern are like healing salve on the same wound. 

 "No one was lost because his sin was too great, but because his trust was too small." Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos

The mercy of God is infinite and without limit. God sees our sinfulness, which he abhors because it is contrary to our identity and destiny. Yet, God  knows that we can't reconcile ourselves to him on our own. So, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God, we have been redeemed., but not automatically. We must turn back to him and trust in his mercy and love. The Evil One speaks the lie that we are too far gone and can't be forgiven. The Spirit of God speaks the truth that, if we believe and trust in his promises, we will experience his mercy. This is the grace that restores us to our original identity and destiny, an adopted child of God, destined for eternal life with God.

 "Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received--only what you have given." St. Francis of Assisi

That is a sobering thought! Every good thing we have comes from God. We have received many blessings and gifts, freely and without merit. What fruit have borne? In God's love song of the vineyard found in Isaiah, the question is whether the fruit is sour grapes or delicious grapes. In the parable the workers of the vineyard reaped injustice and dishonesty, rather than righteousness and justice, love and service of others. At the end of our life what will we have to show for our stewardship, sour grapes or delicious ones? Our eternity will rest on the fruits of our lives.

 "The more we love God, the more holy do we become." St. Francis Borgia

If you want to be holy, the sure path is that of love: love of God and love of others. Love is measured not in quantity but in quality. Love is a gift from God, who has loved us first and beyond measure. Love's focus is other. It is expressed in small ways, like a genuine smile when we meet another, like an act of unconditional service, like a kind word, like opening a door for another. If done in love because of our relationship with God, then we will be growing in holiness. That was the small way St. Therese of the Child Jesus discovered and her path of holiness. The path to holiness lies before us. We need but take it.

 "Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love." St. Therese of the Child Jesus

So often we think that sacrifice have to be painful and hard, like fasting or mortification.  What is a sacrifice? It is offering to God in praise of his name, in gratitude for his many blessings. Many times we avoid making difficult sacrifices. But St. Therese saw that something done in love for another is a sacrifice pleasing to God. With that in mind we need to become aware of the small opportunities we are given by God to make a sacrifice pleasing to him. "What you did for the least, you did for me." Whatever we do, if we do it in love, our gift is acceptable to God.