TO BE A SAINT

“TO BE A SAINT” is considered the MOST IMPORTANT OBLIGATION OF A CHRISTIAN.

Way back in 1943, when I was a minor seminarian at the San Jacinto Minor Seminary in Tuguegarao, I participated in a Catechetical Quiz Contest that was open to the public. Being in the seminary I thought that at least one of us seminarians will top the contest. To our surprise it was an outsider, Mr. Ricardo Bassig (RIP), who got the highest score. Reviewing the Quiz Contest, we found out that we failed to answer correctly this question: “WHAT IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT OBLIGATION AS A CHRISTIAN?” Being a Multiple Choice Type , we were asked to choose the BEST CORRECT ANSWER. Several answers were given such as: Obeying the Commandments, Going to Mass on Sundays and Holidays of Obligation, Receiving the Sacraments, etc. All of us seminarians failed to choose the Best Correct Answer, which is “TO BE A SAINT.”

Filled with wonder why “TO BE A SAINT” is considered the best correct answer, we asked our Father Rector, Rev. Fr. Oscar Deltour, CICM, who was one of those who prepared the Test Questions, for the reason. He replied: “BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE A SAINT YOU PRACTICALLY DO ALL THAT A TRUE CHRISTIAN HAS TO DO”.

Since meaning is in people, I have to ask myself, what do I mean by the word “SAINT”. Usually, this word is given to the name of someone who has been canonized
by the Church, to officially proclaim that he or she is now enjoying the Beatific Vision of God in heaven. So far in the Philippines, there is only one person who has been canonized by the Church – ST. LORENZO RUIZ. Does it mean that St. Lorenzo is the only Filipino who is now in heaven. I do believe that there are already countless of Filipinos who are with God in heaven. I have learned that the essence of being a SAINT is simply TO BE UNITED WITH GOD. Hence, all those in heaven, as well as those in purgatory and here on earth who are united with God are also saints.

TO BE UNITED WITH GOD – This is what every person should pursue. This is attained when a person sincerely strives to know, love and serve God wholeheartedly.
Man, however, is a finite being, while God is an Infinite Being. Therefore, man cannot attain union with God by his own efforts alone. He needs the Grace of God to be able to lift himself up to an Infinite Being. To be united with God man has, therefore, to first acknowledge his complete dependence on God and humbly ask for the grace that will enable him to reach out to God with his whole heart, his whole mind, his whole soul, and with all his strength. This actually is the Greatest of all the Commandments which Jesus Christ Himself has pointed out when a lawyer questioned Him and He replied: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37)

Lately in my readings I came across a statement which reads: “Perfection consists in one thing only: doing the Will of God. To become a saint, all that is necessary is acquiring the habit of wanting to do the Will of God at all times”. (Spiritual Dairy of St. Vincent de Paul – p.13). With this statement of a Saint, I have made it a habit whenever I visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to pray: HERE I AM, LORD, I COME TO DO YOUR WILL”.

by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
August 29, 2010