Our own lives can seem small in comparison to the life of a saint, but their lives are meant to inspire us to great things in the eyes of God, and such feats can be accomplished in the humblest of circumstances. Satan ever seeks to convince us of our worthlessness, while God reminds us daily that we are of infinite worth to Him.
In any state in life.
At any age.
Your personal sanctification is your goal. And as you receive the graces from God to accomplish your goal, for some, possibly at their last breath, the sanctification of their surroundings, neighbors and community becomes evident.
Attitudes, behaviors..they are contagious. Saintly people inspire us to aim higher.
On a few occasions I’ve had the pleasure to introduce Catholic prayer to our non-Catholic residents. To help make their suffering valuable. Redemptive suffering.
I use the passage below to explain that it’s never too late, and at any state in life, one can make great progress in Sainthood.
The first will be last…and the last will be first; Matthew 20
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Parable of the Vineyard Workers
1The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the marketplace idle. 4And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just. 5And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did in like manner. 6But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle? 7They say to him: Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them: Go ye also into my vineyard.
8And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: Call the labourers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first. 9When therefore they were come that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: And they also received every man a penny. 11And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house, 12Saying: These last have worked but one hour. and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats. 13But he answering said to one of them: friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny? 14Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee. 15Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Is thy eye evil, because I am good? 16So shall the last be first and the first last. For many are called but few chosen.
All of our sufferings, disappointments and failings can become beautiful fruits from the vineyard for our God when we gladly combine them to Our Lords Passion.
Take my chronic back pain dear Jesus and combine it to the great pain you suffered from the weight of the Holy Cross on that good Friday so many years ago, and together may our United sufferings convert sinners.
[ a sample prayer ]
I found this website where Sr Clare gave a testimony of her life and what led her to her vocation. I’m going to show it to my daughters. If anyone knows a young person searching for God, Sr Clares testimony a relatable and powerful read.
https://www.sisterclare.com/en/her-life/biography?id=7536
Thank you I’ll be watching “All or Nothing”.
“15Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will?”
In the Old Testament if a vineyard owner did not pay the workers their daily wage and the workers died on the way home, the owner was guilty of the worker’s death. The owner here was generous and wise. Truly a humanitarian.
Will we be guilty of the souls who do not make heaven and die on the road?