Is it wrong to WANT to be a Saint?

[AlanFromWichita]

blessedstar:

No it is not wrong to want to be a Saint, infact it is very good to want to be a Saint.

Carry on wanting to be a Saint and I’ll pray you achieve it!

If I have my attitude right, I must regard every person, myself included, as a saint. I not only wish to become a saint, I expect no less of myself and my family than to share in that vision.

Whether I wish to become an official, recognized saint – now that is something else.

If we are looking to BE a saint, then we are looking the right direction. If we want to be RECOGNIZED AS a saint by being canonized and all that, then I’m not sure.

In fact, it occurs to me that it’s a good thing we don’t canonize saints until they’re dead, or it could be an irreversible injection of pride that could destroy a normal person. I’m still a little confused over the fact that rummaging through JPII’s personal papers for evidence for his cause is more important than following his expressed wishes that those papers be destroyed. (Guess he’ll know for next time around not to trust others to get a job done, eh?)

As far as I’m concerned, God provides each of us the ability to become a saint, and if we are to live up to our potential we will likewise be saints. We may never realize that ability because we are programmed to think poorly of ourselves and to focus on our failures and inabilities – to the extent I think most of us have an immune system that won’t even allow the notion that we are (as Vatican II confirmed) all called to holiness.

Alan

 

[puzzleannie]

that is supposed to be our goal, to strive for holiness, imitating Christ, and that is definitely the primary purpose for marriage and families, assist each other in the pursuit of sanctification.

 

[puzzleannie]

AlanFromWichita:

If I .

In fact, it occurs to me that it’s a good thing we don’t canonize saints until they’re dead, or it could be an irreversible injection of pride that could destroy a normal person.

I agree entirely. What is it with canonizing American Idols like these winter olympics stars (even the ones who drop out without competing and get more coverage than the winners). What is wrong is not acting like a saint and desiring to be a saint, but walking around trying to imitate the outward characteristics of a saint, seeking the approval of others and approbation and admiration for a saint, without the inward conversion, humility and obedience required for sainthood. Wanting the crown without the cross, now that is wrong.

 

[blessedstar]

AlanFromWichita:

If I have my attitude right, I must regard every person, myself included, as a saint. I not only wish to become a saint, I expect no less of myself and my family than to share in that vision.

Whether I wish to become an official, recognized saint – now that is something else.

If we are looking to BE a saint, then we are looking the right direction. If we want to be RECOGNIZED AS a saint by being canonized and all that, then I’m not sure.

In fact, it occurs to me that it’s a good thing we don’t canonize saints until they’re dead, or it could be an irreversible injection of pride that could destroy a normal person. I’m still a little confused over the fact that rummaging through JPII’s personal papers for evidence for his cause is more important than following his expressed wishes that those papers be destroyed. (Guess he’ll know for next time around not to trust others to get a job done, eh?)

As far as I’m concerned, God provides each of us the ability to become a saint, and if we are to live up to our potential we will likewise be saints. We may never realize that ability because we are programmed to think poorly of ourselves and to focus on our failures and inabilities – to the extent I think most of us have an immune system that won’t even allow the notion that we are (as Vatican II confirmed) all called to holiness.

Alan

Great post Alan. You hit the nail firmly and squarely on the head about the matter of pride. Pride rears it’s ugly head all over the place! Darn that pride business . As you have said so well we must not strive to be a Saint for purposes of self glorification, but to glorify God.

God searches the heart of each person and knows their motives for living a ‘saintly’ life, that ultimate call to holiness. In truth then, no-one who desires to be a saint for their own reputation and to be loved and to some extent reverred and respected by all was never truly a saint.

I’ve heard it said that when some people have been referred to as a ‘living saint’ the truly saintly get real angry over this, I think this was the case with St Padre Pio, but hey I could have my facts mixed up and it may well be another of our great saints, either way, let’s all keep up the holy business of striving for sanctity and do it for the right reasons, that is to glorify God.

Brilliant post Alan, thanks again, because most people would miss that very subtle and hidden trap of the nasty pride business!