WELCOME TO SAINTHOOD-Introduction

My name is Lailee, and I cannot even begin to tell you how much mental pressure comes with a name like that. Since Day 1, having a “different” name can have the ability to make you just…well, different or at least be given the expectation to be different. (And then you add in the red hair…and yep, I’m a weirdo!) “Wow, you could be the first Lailee to…” was a frequent phrase during my childhood. Perhaps the most stand out instance, however, was the time my dad told 10-year-old me that I “Just have to keep pushing for greatness; who knows you could be the first St. Lailee”. No pressure, Dad! We were standing on a hill, looking into the woods, leading down to a lake as that remark washed over me. I just laughed it off, regardless of the fact that my dad was dead serious. That remark comes back to me again and again, however. Me? A saint? Nope! I’m too ordinary…I’m such a sinner…I have no time (haha, is this not our current society’s biggest excuse in any circumstance?). However, about 2 months ago, my perspective took a 180-degree turn. Almost instantaneously, kneeling during the consecration, my mind made the decision that I now truly desire to be a saint. My initial excitement and reasoning has absolutely everything to do with the Mass, itself, which is written about in the next post, “A MASS-ive Change”, but after this moment my mind began whirring. Could I really become a saint? Could my friends come with me? Can we all be saints? The topic seemed to stalk me over the next few weeks. Anytime someone mentioned “sainthood”, my ears pricked viciously, like some skittish cat being overly dramatic about a nearby bird. I was on the brink of dozing during a particularly scattered homily on a sleepy Wednesday night, and the priest suddenly says, “If you want, you CAN be a saint.” I probably nearly hurt myself with how quickly my neck snapped to attention. The desire to wave my hand around and jump up and down was particularly hard to suppress. “Oooh, oh oh! Pick me, pick meeeeee!” Soon after the initial desire sparked, our parish handed out Interior Freedom written by the incomparable Fr. Jacques Philippe. He says that human imperfections are actually a blessing, because when we recognize the fact that humans do have limits, we are more inclined to turn toward God for a more satisfied way of life. So rather than beat ourselves up or become disappointed in one another, we should regard these faults as a blessing and look toward God and tell him “thank you”. “God can make us, sinners that we are, into saints: his grace can accomplish even that miracle […] Even if we fall every day, as long as we get up again and say ‘Lord, thank you, because Im’ sure that you will make me a saint’ we give immense pleasure to God and sooner or later will receive from him what we hope for.” (Philippe, Interior Freedom) GUYS! WE WILL RECEIVE IT! Hope for something, and you shall receive it! Ask and ye shall receive! We can ask for sainthood! How cool! Shortly after this explanation, he cites a beautiful quote from St. Faustina, which reassures us, “Let no soul doubt, even the most pitiful, so long as they are still alive, that they can become a great saint. For great is the power of God’s grace.” With prayer and God’s grace, I began to reflect on suffering in regards to sainthood. I was worried that in my search for Christ, I was becoming complacent. My life is blessed, right now, how can I be considered a saint; their lives were extraordinary and many accomplished great feats. Well, because they are saints, we can assume their humility and that made me realize something important. I do have hard struggles in my life, but because of God, going through them becomes easy. Hard times do not have to be hard. Sure, those hard facts of life are still hard in and of themselves, but the way we stroll through them can be easy and graceful, because of God’s love and goodness.

Lastly, I had dinner with my friend, Rachelle, and she told me about this particular position held within a convent. Once a religious has passed away, there is someone assigned to documenting their life and addressing any possibility that they might become a saint. Her particular thought was that perhaps, dioceses could assign someone to do the same for parishes. But, regardless, this made me think of many people’s idea that saints seem to only be religious. Perhaps this seems true in a “canonized” sense, but also, perhaps it’s just time we start recognizing that potential for sainthood in one another and encouraging one another in the fulfillment of that potential. We don’t need to be perfect; we just merely need to be in love with God. So, that’s that. Put a fork in me, I’m done. I’ve made my decision. I want us all to be saints and be excited and get down with our bad selves in Heaven (or, I suppose good selves…). Us? Saints? Why not? We are ordinary sinners and have an entire, God-given life full of time to become a saint.

Let’s do it! Stay on the Salty/Sunny Side, Lailee _____________________________________________________________

Lailee is Philosophy graduate of Benedictine College, 2013. She works and adores her job as full-time nanny and lover of sunshine in Kansas City. State of origin is Texas, but most people think Colorado or California. Perhaps because she has never worn cowboy boots and couldn't have an accent if she tried. She loves smiling, writing, deep conversation, dancing, and good steak. St. Jude is her saint stalker. (It's a thing!)

#saltycatholic #FrJacquesPhilippe #180degrees #StFaustina #sainthood #saint