Saints Are?

We conclude our series on saints with - Saints are not perfect!

Each of the saints had human flaws and faults. They made mistakes. Even at the end of their lives, they still found themselves in need of contrition, pardon and reconciliation.

St. Jerome, it is said, had a fearful temper. When another scholar of his time, a former friend, Rufinus, questioned his conclusions, St. Jerome wrote pamphlet after pamphlet blasting him.

St. Aloysius apparently had bad timing in his spiritual quest; the other novices were just as happy when he was not there. He was the kind of saint who did not seem to know how to enjoy the things of this life.

Some saints misunderstood their own visions. When St. Francis was told to rebuild the Church, he thought it meant the local church building. It is interesting and amusing to note that Jesus did not clarify the request for him until after he had exerted a lot of sweat and energy repairing an old church.

St. Joan of Arc was coerced into signing a retraction of her visions, although she later retracted that retraction.

So we are in good company. Pope Francis Says not because we are good, but because the holiness of God has touched our lives, … they are not perfect models, but are people whose lives God has crossed, who allow light to enter in different shades of colour. Above all, saints are our brothers and sisters "who have welcomed the light of God into their hearts and have passed it on to the world, each one according to their own 'tone'," 

Lord, may we want you to look upon us with favour. May we humbly submit our imperfect will to your perfect will. May we be filled with gratitude for who you are, that you are long-suffering and loving. May our heart’s desire be to please you and bring honour and glory to your name and not ourselves. Amen