St. Bernard - a Franciscan Saint - was ordained a priest. In only two years after his ordination, he was conscrated a Bishop. He died at the age of 24 and was canonized a Saint soon afterwards.
We all know what it means to be on a "fast track". We think of "fast tracking" for those who climb up the corporate ladder like a rocker. But what of a saint that does that? St. Dominic Savio was only 12 when he died. If Jacinta and Francesco of Fatima are cononized [and their causes have already been begun], the will be the youngest Saints in the history of the Church. Of
Of course, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, declared Doctor of the Church by Blessed Pope John Paul II, was only 24 years old when she died - the same as St. Bernard. St. Joan of Arc was even younger - about 19 years old when she was martyred.
How does God and why does God make such young Saints? Well, besides the obvious explanation given by Jesus Himself: "Unless you become like a little child, you will not enter into the Kingdom of God,"
there are some possible theological reasons.
1) God sometimes sweeps His beloved ones away to heaven while they are at their peek of innocence and holiness. When they are perfect, He takes them to Himself to shine forever.
2) Some souls are born with great graces. St. Anthony of Padua who only lives to his early 30's seems to be consecrated to God in the womb.
3) God takes great and holy souls to Himself to show us that what is important for all of us is to "know, love and serve God and be happy with Him in heaven."
4) God may take some souls early because He simply loves them so much and wants to give them perfect happiness. Is it possible that God just can't wait to give Himself fully to a beloved son or daughter. Every relationship with God between a soul and God is totally unique - a mysterious union - beyond our imagination. The love between a particular Saint and God is a love story of unsurpassing beauty and goodness. God gives this relationship all eternity to grow, develop and deepen. God is Love....God is the Lover or lovers. He creates intimate relationships with Himself that not even the Church has ever recorded because these relationships keep on growing - in knowledge and love - forever and ever. The love between God and Our Lady now is beyond her dreams. She is the greatest soul in heaven after Jesus; and her beauty and love and knowledge of God keeps growing and growing. Her Assumption was her launch into the abyss of God's Love. And God has that kind of plans for you and me.
Father, into your hands we commend our spirit. You know the whole of all our conversations with you on this earth and in all eternity. You can see the total of every act of our love for you. We cannot dream of how our love relationship with You will be billions of heaven years into eternity because all our love for You and Yours for us will be and is now totally present to you. Maybe that is why You overlook our faults. You see our love for you growing for all eternity. We LOVE You, Father! One day You will come and lift us out of the cribs of this world just as a Grandfather lifts His 2-year old out of her crib after waking up from her afternoon nap. She will cling trustingly to Your arms and let You carry her into Your eternally loving, tender and cherishing Heart - forever and ever. Amen.
Love, Pio
No comments:
Post a Comment