This Is (Not) New
Something that has been on my heart and I’m sure on the hearts of others is that the Church is again in crisis.
Terrible corruption and scandals have been brought to light. Confusing messages and in-fighting are coming from the Church hierarchy that we’re supposed to follow. Some or all of the most recent Church council was lost in translation and now many churches are languishing. Many people in our lives are actively leaving the Church or are passively “I don’t care”-ing themselves out of the faith because of all this.
Yet this is not new.
Throughout her history, the Church has always been marked by scandal, corruption, and sin.
During the Arian heresy in the 300’s, many bishops and priests of the Early Church actively professed heresy.
In the Middle Ages, a number of bishops and Popes fell into nepotism. A string of Popes became pope through nepotism and continued said nepotism to keep the “papal dynasty” within the family.
In the Western Schism of the late 1300’s, three men claimed to be Pope and excommunicated each other.
One of the Twelve Apostles, men personally called by Christ Himself to represent Him on Earth, betrayed Him for money.
On and on throughout history, the Church has shown that while it is the Bride of Christ it is also made of weak sinful humans, of which I am one and of which we are all.
Damon Owens summed it up quite well. He was on the Matt Fradd Show, a podcast run by Matt Fradd, talking about the times that we are in as a Church.
”In my brief history, I’m trying to find this time in 2000 years where the Church was ever not in crisis. And I’m not trying to do a false equalization. I’m just saying ‘Where has the Church ever been [at peace]?’ And there’s always something that could and should have destroyed the Church.” - Damon Owens, 43:49
So, Now What?
How do we the laity respond? What should we do? What do we need?
We need to become saints.
Fr. Mike Schmitz was also on the Matt Fradd Show talking about this idea and said it very well.
”If we understand history, one of the things we recognize is this is not new. Not to say it doesn’t matter. But to say ‘these are the times in which God has always raised up saints.’ And they weren’t waiting for permission to be saints. They weren’t waiting for permission - they weren’t waiting for a perfect pope to become the followers of Christ. They weren’t waiting for their bishop to get on board and stand up and talk about X in order for them to say ‘Lord I am fully Yours.‘” - Fr Mike Schmitz, 1:36:27
You (Yes You) Are Called To Be A Saint
One of the fruits of Vatican II is the idea of the Universal Call to Holiness. In Lumen Gentium (translated “Light of the Nations”), the Church talks about how we are all called in our own unique life circumstances to our own unique path to holiness using our own unique gifts from God.
”All the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity… they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history.” - Lumen Gentium, p. 40
Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman was canonized today. He has been referred to by many as one of the biggest underlying influences of Vatican II because of the number of central figures of Vatican II who claim him as an influence in their formation and theology.
We see in Newman’s writing the seeds of the idea of the Universal Call to Holiness.
”I am created to do something or to be something for which no one else is created; I have a place in God’s counsels, in God’s world, which no one else has; whether I be rich or poor, despised or esteemed by man, God knows me and calls me by my name.
”God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission - I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow I am necessary for His purposes, as necessary in my place as an Archangel in his - if, indeed, I fail, He can raise another, as He could make the stones children of Abraham. Yet I have a part in this great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connexion between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.
Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, He may shorten it; He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends, He may throw me among strangers, He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me - still He knows what He is about.” - Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman, “Meditations on Christian Doctrine”, p. 301
So What Am I Saying?
Regardless of how the Church looks, our vocation and God’s Will for us is sainthood. And God-willing, our individual sainthood contributes to the overall sanctification of those around us and of the Church as a whole.
So how do we combat corruption in the clergy? How do we eradicate scandal and sin? What is the first step in reforming the Church?
We become the next Generation of Saints.
You do not need to ask permission to be a saint. You do not need anyone’s approval to be a saint. You do not need a sign from God to be a saint. You do not need the perfect pope, bishop, pastor, spiritual director, boss at work, or patron saint of your ministry.
If you absolutely need permission, if you need a sign, consider this your greenlight from God. Go.
Every day is a great day to be a saint. There is never a time when a saint is not needed. This is what God is calling you to. He has put you here in this specific time, in this specific community, with these specific friends, in this specific family, in this specific parish, in this specific country, in this specific culture, at this specific moment in history because He wants to sanctify it by making YOU a saint.
You are the saint we are waiting for. You are the saint we need.
And, given the abundance of grace I have seen in my fellow future saints, I have great hope for the future of the Church. God and His grace are incredibly hard at work in our time. I believe that I will see and be a part of the next Generation of Saints.