The saints are as different from each other in some ways as any other group of people. They all share the trait of Christ-centered lives.
So, to answer your question from my perspective, the very different models of life demonstrated by some of my favorite saints help guide me and offer me examples of virtue needed in different times of my life.
I admire the compassion of St. Damien of Molokai, the intellectual devotion to God (and brilliance!) of St. Thomas Aquinas, the battlefield courage of St. John of Capistrano, the strategic brilliance of St. Joan of Arc, the humanity and insight of St. Augustine, the eloquence of St. Paul, the emotional devotion to Christ of St. John, the ultimate devotion to doctrinal truth of St. Maximus the Confessor, St. Francis’ devotion to living a life like Christ, the spiritual insight of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the wild asceticism of the Stylite saints, the spiritual and physical protection of St. Michael the Archangel, the utter virtue, example, and intercession of Our Lady, the model of fatherhood demonstrated in St. Joseph, the bravery in the face of death and theological brilliance of St. John Campion, the Christian solidarity of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste, the leadership of St. Peter, the joie de vivre, love of nature and sports, and commitment to the poor and social justice of the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frasatti, the courage in the face of a hostile and soul-crushing regime shown by the Blessed Pope John Paul II, and the extreme devotion to humanity of the Blessed Mother Teresa, not recognized as saints yet, but soon I hope. I feel especially deep gratitude for the intercession of St. Nicholas in my life.
I love all of them and the lessons they have taught me. I like the fact that they are not dead, but more alive than I am in their closeness to Christ, and as fellow members of the Church, have an interest in me just as I do in them.
