Monica McConkey, founder of Catholic Blogger’s Network and founder of Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families has a series of Cards Called “Super Saints.” There are so many wonderful saints included in these decks of cards, I’m going to leave it to you to check out the site and find your favorite saints. I have a deck, and I am very pleased, not only with the quality, but the information.
Fast forward: I asked Monica if she could make me into a Super Saint, well, not really, but if she could make me a saint card, and she did. “Kelly Saints” aka Kelly, Monica’s daughter, drew the portrait you see at the top. I told Monica that it was important that the drawing be imperfect, (but it is perfect!) because I am imperfect as I work on my journey to saint hood.
Now, I am wondering, if after I die, I will have a real super saint card, not just a saint in the making card, but a real saint with real holy cards and prayers. Time will tell, but look around you.
I’m not the only saint in the making. You are, too. There are saints in the making all around. You know, your neighbor who’s husband drinks too much, but she strives to make the marriage work. It might not make sense, but she is doing the best she can. That naughty little boy who comes to your yard and throws garbage. He’s a saint in the making. He’s doing the best he can. You know the lady who is always laughing, and when she thinks no one is looking, a tear will escape from her eyes because of the deep sorrow in her soul. All of these people are saints in the making.
Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.” John 7:37.
Can you just see Our Lord standing up in a crowd and asking people to come to Him and drink. They must have been astonished, and, I’m sure many of them left Him. Where was the water He wanted them to drink? The Jordan wasn’t the cleanest water, but everyone knew that the water of the Jordan River was for drinking and bathing. Was this the water He wanted them to drink? Well, you did that anyway. This was not the water they wanted to drink.
Many went home, but many of the people stayed for they did thirst for His words. They called Him “Prophet” and “Rabbi.” A few recognized Him as their God. He knew who they were and what they believed.
“As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.”
John 6: 66-68
As a saint in the making, how do you feel about these words? “To whom shall we go?” No wonder Jesus chose Peter to be our first Pope. Petere was a man filled with faults and imperfections, but the first one to declare that Jesus was God. Where is there to go without Jesus? Our world today is filled with violence and death. Many souls are being lost. “To Whom shall we go?” I can only think of one answer.
We should go to the foot of the Cross and give ourselves to God.
There is no other way.
Super saints are, first and foremost, women and men who gave themselves to God and stand at the cross. For some saints, it was an instantaneous decision and accomplishment. For most saints, it was a process, a journey, a life filled with ups and downs. They fell many times in their journey, but they got up again and walked to the Lord.
Doesn’t that sound familiar? You try and fail. Try and fail. However, as you walk forward, you become a better person. You learn to love more. You learn to be less judgmental. You learn to love openly those who are unkind to you. You extend mercy to those who would harm you. Each day, with the Lord’s blessings and graces, you walk the mountain of salvation. You pick up your cross, and lead the way.
You are the woman who babysits her neighbor’s child because the family has no one to look after the baby. You do it for little to no cost.
You are the person who takes someone out to dinner because you have seen them crying and hope to make them happy for a few minutes. You are the person who cleans house for someone who is ill and cannot do it themselves. You are the clerk who bites her tongue when someone comes through the line looking for an argument and picks on you. You are the child who convinces Daddy to go to Church with Mommy. You are the teenager who helps a friend who is being bullied. You are the atheist who sees a homeless person on the street begging for money, and you give them your last $10 and skip lunch because you have no money left.
No, you’re not perfect—yet, but you are on the way. We’re all super saints in the making. I have a feeling that as we go forward, Monica will be making many more Super Saint Cards to help arm Catholic Families.
Prayerfully Yours 