“There is only one tragedy in the end, not to have been a saint”. These words of Léon Bloy, cited in this inspiring collection of holy lives, also figure in the recent Exhortation of Pope Francis on the universal call to holiness. Bloy’s point is that the most natural thing in the world is for a Christian to become a saint. Holiness is the flowering of baptismal grace.
Fr John Murray’s work, published in the year of the Holy Father’s visit to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families, is of longstanding value since it highlights the family as a natural place of sanctification, and marriage as a vocation to holiness, a truth St Josemaría was a pioneer in proclaiming.
Sts Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah, and the Holy Innocents, appear alongside Thomas More, Margaret Clitherow and Louis and Zélie Martin, parents of Thérèse. Some of those presented have not, at this point at any rate, been beatified or canonized such as Karol and Emily Woytyła, parents of Pope St John Paul II, and Jacques and Raïsa Maritain. Irish connections are not lacking either with portraits of Bl. Solanus Casey, Ven. Matt Talbot and Mary Martin.
This book can spur us all on in the hope of being saints.
About the Author: Rev. Donncha Ó hAodha
Rev. Donncha Ó hAodha is a priest of the Opus Dei Prelature, author of several CTS booklets and a regular contributor to Position Papers.