Inbox Inspiration: June 11, 2019: Saints and Other Holy Ones

Saints and Other Holy Ones

Dear Friends, 
I have decided to do a series of Inbox Inspirations on saints.
Saints have always played a part especially in our Catholic Christian tradition.
We call upon saints for their help and intercession with God at certain times –
for example, when we are sick,
or when we are dealing with something that feels hopeless,
or when we don’t know how to respond to a rebellious child.
We invoke the name of a particular saint and ask for his or her help.
We also see the saints simply as our companions.
They inspire us with the example of their own lives.
They accompany us on the journey of life.
They now live with God in eternity and, at the same time, are supporting us and wanting us to join them at the time God decides.
In the next four weeks, and then from time to time, I will reflect on some of our saints.
And, I will also include some of the holy ones who have not been officially canonized as saints but who also clearly inspire us in faith and can be our companions for the journey.    

“Of course some might argue (and some do argue) that all you need is Jesus. And that’s true: Jesus is everything, and the saints understood this more than anyone. But God in his wisdom has also given us these companions of Jesus to accompany us along the way, so why not accept the gift of their friendship and encouragement? And there’s no reason to feel as if devotion to the saints somehow takes away from your devotion to Jesus: everything the saints say and do is centered on Christ and points in his direction.”    
From My Life with the Saints by Father James Martin, S.J. (1960-. Jesuit priest, editor at large of America magazine, author of many books and articles).
 “All you holy men and women, Saints of God, pray for us.” 
Father Michael Schleupner