Chapter Seven – The Path Is Well Trodden

In this chapter Matthew looks back on his life and by his own admission was idealistic as a young man. The concept of holiness was immediately attractive to him and was the single most important event of his life. It wasn’t just the discovery of an idea but a revelatory awakening of his essential purpose. This set him on his lifelong path to be the best-version-of-himself. One of the key elements in his journey was the use of other men and women who served as examples for him to emulate on this path to living a life of holiness.

Matthew discusses the reality that the spiritual life is a long and difficult journey. We are as he says “pilgrims” on this path and need guides to help us along. These guides have been coaches in his youth and as he searched for examples of excellence in his adulthood he looked towards figures that became great Catholics. Whom would you study? Many would say seeking to imitate Jesus would be the natural answer. Who have been his greatest followers? Who has walked this path successfully before us? The answer is the saints.

“The saints have made the journey we are called to explore for ourselves. They serve as extraordinary examples of the Christian life, and after Christ, they are the best role models, guides, mentors, and coaches for those who truly desire to draw nearer to God and work out their salvation (cf. Philippians 2:12).” Matthew notes that some may object saying Christ is the only role model necessary. But the saints show us what is possible for a human person to be completely transformed by Christ. So why are the saints for modern day Catholics so unpopular?

The reality is that the same prevailing philosophies that permeate the world have permeated the Church. Modern Catholics judge the Mass, the Church, and Catholicism by what they get out of it (remember individualism?). Most modern Catholics have abandoned almost every Catholic tradition that is not self-gratifying or that requires something of them (remember hedonism?). It is also a common lament “I go to church on Sunday, and I always say grace before meals. Isn’t that enough? (remember minimalism?).” The saints challenge modern Catholics because they remind us of Christ’s call to break with “the spirit of the world” and embrace the Spirit of God. Like Jesus, by their example, the saints invite us to a life of discipline.

“Discipline is the faithful friend who will introduce you to your true self. Discipline is the worthy protector who will defend you from your lesser self. And discipline is the extraordinary mentor who will challenge you to become the-best-version-of-yourself and all that God created you to be.” Absent of discipline, humans must be content with mediocrity; the person is confined to a soulless, purposeless life. Without discipline the soul slowly but surely dies. History is replete with examples of how discipline was an integral part of greatness: Mozart “became” a great composer by mastering the discipline of playing the harpsichord; Picasso’s genius was not unleashed until he mastered the discipline of painting. Only then did the individual style and genius we know today emerge. 

“The goal of the Christian life is to live a holy life. Those who have attained this goal we call saints. They found their essential purpose, they pursued their essential purpose, and they celebrated their essential purpose.” They became the-best-versions-of-themselves by answering the universal call to holiness. The challenge for each of us is to open our hearts to the call of the Gospel, which ultimately leads to the call to holiness. The saints remind us that holiness is possible – for all of us. We just need to listen for the still small voice of God speaking to our hearts and then respond. For just like the saints, he wants each of us to become the-very-best-version-of-ourselves.   

Question

Do you remember who your patron saint is? What about their life defines holiness for you? Do you believe that holiness is possible for you?

In peace,
Dan