The Struggles of the Saints

Hello all,

Today is the feast of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus!

So I thought I could talk about the Saints and their struggles.  Yes, struggles.

Many people believe the Saints  lived completely perfect lives and that we could never be like them.  But many people are wrong.  The saints are ordinary people just like us.  There are many examples of saints who had struggles in their lives.

The one difference between them and us is that they overcame their struggles.  St. Therese, 

St. Teresa, St. Augustine, and St. Edith Stein all had troubles like us.  Not just small troubles either.

St. Augustine and St. Edith Stein both became atheist before coming to the Church.  It took many YEARS of prayer before St. Monica, Augustine's mother, was successful in bringing him to the Church.  St. Edith Stein was a Jew, and then became an atheist before becoming a Catholic and then eventually a Carmelite sister.  

St. Teresa of Avila was a pretty young girl.  She was always concerned with being beautiful and having friends.  Teresa liked romances, just like me.  She lived a ver ordinary life as a teenager concerned with boys, clothes, and rebelling.  When she was 16, her father sent her to a convent because he thought she was so out of control.  She did not like it at first, but grew to like and enjoy the life there.  

St. Therese was a very normal child.   She was the baby of the family and so, was spoiled. She cried when her mother died when she was only 4 years old, she picked the biggest piece of cake for herself,   she was terribly shy at school, and she got upset when 'Father Christmas' didn't fill her shoes.  But on that night, Christmas Eve in 1886, she realized her selfishness and changed for the better.  She changed her outlook on life to love and others instead of herself.  We can do the same.  God is calling us to have a conversion within.

These saints were ordinary people, just like you and me.  They were concerned with parties, boys, books, clothes, and all other things that interest teenagers and young adults.  What made them so different from us in the end?  They had a conversion of heart.  We can make the small decision of heart and pray for God's will in our lives as well.

How do we ultimately surrender?  I learned in our priest's homily this Sunday that we must have humility before all things.  These saints certainly didn't have this before they changed.  Humility was part of their conversion.  Humility is the root of all virtues.  Without it, we can not possibly obey God in all that he wants for us.  With humility comes obedience, and with obedience, safety in God, because we do as He commands.  

After St. Thérèse entered the Carmel at the age of 15, she grew more humble in her work.  She was assigned tasks and chores she didn't care for or that grossed her out.  She overcame her pride with humility and obedience to her superiors and to God.  We need to do the same.  We need to have humility in all things and let them sanctify us.

Let us pray:

"Thy will be done, on earth as in Heaven."

Lord, make us more humble to you, that we may become your saints for this age. 

St. Thérèse, Pray for us!

May God bless you on this special feast day!