"The Call to holiness" (Sister Lucia)

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Sister Lucia, in her book, *“Calls” from the Message of Fatima *described three further apparitions that the children saw while the crowd was gazing with astonishment at the sun which had gone pale in the light of the presence of God. I’ve shared in previous posts the apparition of the Holy Family in the first, the apparition of Jesus as the Perfect Man and Mary as Mother of Sorrows in the second. Today, I’d like to share some of Sister’s words regarding the third of the further apparitions which the children saw on Oct. 13, 1917 – it was an apparition of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Sister shared in chapters 20 and 21 her thoughts on this third apparition. I will share some of her words from Chapter 21 - titled, “The Call to Holiness”. Sister wrote:

…Mary is for each one of us, the model of the most perfect holiness to which a human being can aspire in this poor land of exile.How many times will she not have read and meditated in her heart these words of Sacred Scripture: “You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev 19:2). What God says to us here is for everyone and for all states of life, as we see from the context in which the phrase appears: "And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to all the congregation of Israel, You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev 19: 1-2).

Vatican II has stressed this call also because it is so important for us to hear God’s Word --His Call to be holy as He is holy – in every age of the Church in time. All are called to holiness. I wonder how many persons today think of their own personal call to holiness. I’d be grateful to read your comments. Thanks.

 

[petra22]

I didn’t always feel the call to be holy, but when my daughter was born I saw a real miracle and I WANTED to be holy. I think I was in a fog up until that time… Thankfully, I think, I have felt that call every since. It’s been a long, hard road…

 

[MariaChristi]

I didn’t always feel the call to be holy, but when my daughter was born I saw a real miracle and I WANTED to be holy. I think I was in a fog up until that time… Thankfully, I think, I have felt that call every since. It’s been a long, hard road…

Dear Petra,

Thanks so much for your truly sweet and sincere reply. I agree with you that it is a long, hard road – we follow in blood-stained footprints! Nevertheless it is the narrow road that leads to Life, and few there are who find it.

St. Catherine of Siena in her “Dialogues” said that all the way to heaven is heaven for Jesus said, “I am the Way”.

Today is the First Saturday of July. Let us try to offer the “little” sufferings that may come to us, and/or any “big” sufferings that may surprise or shake our faith – offer all in union with Jesus and Mary and especially in reparation to the Immaculate Heart on this First Saturday.

For more on First Saturday devotion see HERE