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No matter where you are in the world right now, you're probably in a room, a building, a train, a plane, that has a door or entrance somewhere in it. Doors surround us every single day of our lives. They are entrances and exits, beginnings and endings. They represent change and transition and openness to something new. Today in the first reading, Jesus tells us, " ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.'" Imagine for a moment that Jesus is standing outside the door of wherever you are reading this blog post. What would you do? Would you run to it and open it? Or would you be afraid of what might happen if you open the door, how your life would change? Jesus is even closer than the door outside of your room. He's even closer than the air you are breathing right now. Jesus is right outside your heart and He is knocking, and then waiting for you to invite Him in. Jesus longs to be a part of your life. But He's not going to force you to let Him in. Jesus loves us so much that He gives us free will- the option to choose between good and evil, right and wrong, light and darkness. To open the door or not. To choose Him or choose the world. When we choose Him and open the door that He knocks on, we open the door to love, to peace, to life. Yes, it's a change, but it's a change for the better. Jesus is always knocking, always pursuing you. He longs to be one with you and be loved by you. He is always waiting, offering love and mercy and peace. No matter what you've one or who you are, Jesus is there. He wants to forgive you and He wants to love you as you've never been loved before! It's up to you to open the door , let Jesus in, and let Him heal you, love you, and save you. It's not too late to let Him in. Note to all United States Citizens: The United States of America is currently living in a world of hurt, of sin, of anger, and of lies. We need Jesus. He's our only hope right now and we need to let Him in, let Him heal us. Remember, the government is not the entire United States of America, and neither are the celebrities, social media personalities, the rioters, or the cheaters. We too are the United States of America, and we have the power to transform our lives and many others by opening wide the doors to Christ! (as Pope John Paul II would say) Most of all we need to pray. We need to pray for mercy, for love, and for healing. Jesus can still save our country. And I truly believe that He will. What we need to do is pray: pray that He will make everything right in HIS time, that He will help us to speak the truth, and that He will bring to light everything that is going on in our nation. We can change the future of this country. We just need to pray and let Him in.

I asked Father some questions about his life and vocation, and this is the answer that he gave me. Thank you so much, Father! "My Road to the Priesthood - At the beginning of my freshman year at Mt. St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md., in 1960, I realized I had to choose my vocation. Like many other young Catholic men growing up in the 1950’s, I was considering a religious vocation. After a period of soul-searching and consultation with advisors, I decided to pursue studies for the priesthood. The first hurdle was how to tell my family. I chose to write a letter rather than to tell them face to face. My parents have always been behind me with their support and encouragement. I wondered, though, whether I was worthy to become a servant of God. Many of the great saints seemed to have struggled with the same question. St. Peter said to Jesus, “Depart from me Lord for I am a sinful man.” St Paul willingly acknowledged that he had been a persecutor of the early church. In his famous classic Confessions , St. Augustine wrote of the struggles he underwent before he committed himself to Christianity and the religious life. Even St. Theresa, the Little Flower, in her Story of a Soul, indicated her feeling of unworthiness, saying, “So in spite of my littleness, I can hope to be a saint.” Another hurdle for me was the studies. I was never a great student, mediocre at best. To undertake eight years of studying philosophy, church history, scripture, theology, and Latin, Greek, and Hebrew was a daunting prospect. But my mind was made up. I would accept God's invitation and give myself to the call completely. If I failed along the way, it would be an indication that the priesthood was not my calling. Before the end of fall in 1960, I wrote a letter with the help of my cousin, also a priest, and the pastor of my church, seeking acceptance into the seminary. The Diocese advised me to finish my first two years of college and then set up an appointment before the third year of school. In June of 1962 the Bishop of the Diocese called me to his office for an interview. He accepted my application and I was to report to the Seminary in September of 1962. I was able to settle into the routine of the seminary life of prayer and study and on May 25, 1968, was ordained a priest for the Diocese. Too often people use the term vocation to mean religious life. In Latin the word vocation means to be called. We are all called to be a Catholic first, a member of the Mystical Body of Christ. Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.” John 15:16. Go out and live the life of faithful service: married or single; doctor, lawyer, teacher, carpenter, plumber, or maybe a priest, brother or sister, but live your life as a true Catholic follower of Jesus. Remember the story of the rich young man who asked Jesus, “What must I do Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Mt.19/16) In addition; prayer, knowledge of the bible, sacrifice and good works, and receive the Sacraments regularly, especially Reconciliation and Mass and Holy Communion." Catholic Teen Life Readers, let's pray for all Priests who so bravely bring Jesus to us in the sacraments and for all those men who are discerning a call to the Priesthood!

Can you tell me a bit about yourself?  I am 21, from Pennsylvania. I went to a Catholic School from grade school to high school and am the youngest of three. 2.Why are you studying to become a priest?  I want to become a priest because I want to listen to the will of God. I am still not 100% sure if that's what God wants but I feel like I have heard his call and now I am just responding by being in seminary. 3. When and how did you receive your call to become a priest? Was it gradual or all at once? It was definitely gradual. In high school, I didn't feel that much of a call but once I got to college and had 2 religious brothers in English and Political Science classes, I did. 4. What attracted you to religious life? Something that attracted me to religious life would be the vows, community life in prayer, and the mission of education. 5.What is the best part of being a Seminarian? The best part of being a seminarian is being there for people when it comes to spiritual or life problems. 6. What advice would you give to a young person who is considering religious life?  Do not be afraid. If it is for you, God will give you a sign. Listen to Him. This life is joy-filled and wonderful. 7.What is a typical day like for you? 6:50-7:35- Morning prayer/meditation Classes 5:15- Mass Dinner with friends outside seminary Freetime/homework Night prayer Rosary 12:00-1:00-Bedtime 8. What are your hobbies and interests?  Running, photography, writing letters, watching Netflix, soccer, and hanging out with friends. 9.What is one thing you want young people to know about discernment and following God’s call? It is truly a joy to do the will of God in serving His people. It is so enriching. 10.What is one thing you dream of doing someday? I hope to be a principal of a high school some day. 11.Why should young people consider Religious Life? Every man should consider the priesthood because it brings them closer to Christ and to find God's plan for his life. Catholic Teen Life Readers, Let's continue to pray for all seminarians who have the courage to say "yes" to discernment and to God's plan for their lives!

Can you tell me a bit about yourself? Hello! I’m a Salesian Sister of St. John Bosco (formally known as the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) www.salesiansisters.org Fun fact: God knows that I am not good at math so He’s allowed me to profess in 2000 so the math would always be easy when people ask: “How long have you been a Sister?” God is that personal, intimate, and gracious with each one of us, in our weaknesses and in the gifts He gives! Why did you decide to become a Religious Sister? It was a thought and a desire that wouldn’t leave me, no matter how much I tried to convince myself I was going to be married and have a large family! When and how did you receive your call to become a Sister? Was it gradual or all at once? I received the call suddenly when I was about 21 years old, had graduated from college and was working in NYC, not feeling particularly fulfilled. Though a Catholic since birth, I had never thought about it until that moment of prayer, asking God what I was supposed to do with my life. The sudden and unexpected reply in my heart brought me so much joy and peace, yet the discernment was a process over several years as I struggled to understand this vocation and overcome my fears. What attracted you to religious life? Jesus Himself. A life of complete and intimate union with Him held so much joy, serenity, and that ‘aha!’ experience of “THIS is what I am called to be and do with my life.” What is the best part of being a Sister? There are MANY life-giving and joyful aspects, but the BEST part is actually living my vocation each day, fulfilled in the one life I have been given here on earth serving God and others, especially the young, as a Salesian Sister! What advice would you give to a young person who is considering religious life? Pray. Have patience. Be willing to take the time to grow in self-knowledge and friendship with God through the Sacraments, good friends, generous service, and love for Mother Mary. Contact a priest or a vocation director who can accompany you in your journey of discernment because you are not meant to walk it alone! What is a typical day like for you? Morning prayer, meditation, Mass, and breakfast together starts each day in community. Then we are engaged in our various apostolates (ministries). We re-gather for spiritual reading, evening prayer, rosary, examination of conscience, dinner and recreation at the end of the day. The day closes with recollected silence and sleep! Since we work with and among young people, part of our evenings and weekends are sometimes also given to cheering them on at various sports, musical, or other events! 😊 What are your hobbies and interests? Reading, walking/hiking/being in nature, art & museums, learning something new (including eating new foods!), traveling What is one thing you want young people to know about discernment and following God’s call? You don’t want to regret not becoming a Sister (or priest/Brother) because you were too afraid to explore your vocation. [NB: Discernment is not just for “Religious Life” but for ALL of Life. Discernment is a ‘spiritual muscle’, a daily habit that serenely seeks God in all situations and to be guided by His Holy Spirit in our thoughts, words, and actions]. What is one thing you dream of doing someday? Being in Heaven with everyone! (and taking a 4-8 week RV mission trip across the country) Why should young people consider Religious Life? Why not? When people are trying to decide something, don’t they usually consider their options? And one’s vocation is perhaps the most important decision a person can make! So why not bring it out into the sunlight, especially if God has planted the seed for religious life? Water it and see what blossoms! God will give all the grace that’s needed. How can we pray for you? Remember me in your Rosary! Jesus and Mary know all my needs and prayer intentions. Thank you so much, and please be assured that you will be in my daily prayers! Catholic Teen Life Readers, let's pray for all of the amazing women who have so bravely said "yes" to God's call to Religious life and for those who are discerning!

Here are some resources for those of you discerning your Vocation! They are wonderful videos, websites, and books for anyone and everyone who is, or ever will be, discerning their Vocation (which means pretty much everybody...) Websites: Vision Vocation Match- https://vocationnetwork.org/en/match A vocation match quiz that forms a list of possible religious orders for you based on your interests and state of life. It's also completely free! The rest of the website also has some great resources. Imagine Sisters- https://imaginesisters.org/ A great resource for young women in their discernment! This organization works to "expose the beauty of religious life" as they say on their website. They also have a Youtube channel and are present on various other forms of social media. Religious Brotherhood- https://religiousbrotherhood.com/ This website serves as a resource for men feeling called to serve God in a community of Religious Brothers. USCCB Resources- https://www.usccb.org/committees/clergy-consecrated-life-vocations/vocations The USCCB website has some wonderful resources for discernment, as well as information on pretty much everything related to Catholicism. It's definitely a useful website! Most diocesan websites will have information on discerning a call to the Priesthood. I won't mention any specific diocesan websites here, but a quick search will give you lots of resources for discernment. Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EMOgG7lfmE - Ascension Presents https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdxYHfExkfo- Bishop Robert Barron https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80msIR5Zs6s- Ascension Presents Books: Discerning Religious Life- https://www.vianneyvocations.com/product/discerning-religious-life/ Discernment Do's and Dont's: A Practical Guide to Vocational Discernment-https://www.amazon.com/Discernment-Dos-Donts-Practical-Vocational/dp/1505110173 Called by God: Discernment and Preparation for Religious Life-https://www.amazon.com/Called-God-Discernment-Preparation-Religious/dp/1945125578 (I've read this book and I can tell you with complete honesty that it is 100% AMAZING!!!) Here is a Rosary for Vocations: https://www.dsj.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Rosary-for-Vocations.pdf No matter what sort of Call you are discerning, it is always helpful to talk to a Priest, Brother, Sister, or Married couple.. They have been through the discernment process for big decisions such as these! They know what it feels like to "step out of the boat" for Jesus, and would probably be glad to help you out. :-) These are just a few of the very numerous resources out there for discernment. Please comment below to suggest any other resources that have been helpful to you or someone you know!

We all have vocations. A lot of them. We are siblings, children, friends, (insert whatever your job is here), teachers, students, leaders, followers, lots of different things! But we are all called to a Vocation (notice the big "V") that is specific to each one of us. Sure, somebody can be a better doctor than you, but they can't be a better mother to your future children. They can't be a better priest to your future congregation. They can't be a better Sister to the women who you will eventually call your Sisters! God calls each and every one of us to a specific role in His Church. This role is called your Big-V Vocation. Your Big-V Vocation refers to the state of life in which God is calling you to love and serve Him in. We are all called to be Jesus' disciples- to be Fishers of Men. The way that God has designed each of us to do that is different, so we are all called to serve Him in different ways. Only YOU have the power to fill the you-shaped gap in the world. The Church needs you to follow wherever God is calling you. We need you to listen to His voice and follow Him wherever He is calling you! Explanation of National Vocation Awareness Week from The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: National Vocation Awareness Week, celebrated November 1-7, 2020 is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations. This week on the blog I will be focusing on Vocations and discernment. There will be a post about resources for discernment as well as some interviews with people in all different stages of their big- "V" Vocations. Please pray, this week and always, for those discerning their Call in life and trying to find the way that they love best, as well as for their family and friends. Let's also pray for everyone who has already found where God is calling them to fill the "them- shaped- hole" on this earth, that they may continue to follow their Father and Lover wherever He leads them. May God Bless you on this Vocational Awareness Week and Always!

All of the Saints! The Story: Saint ________ lived their life for God and is now in Heaven with Him! They may have been His disciple from an early age, or may only have come to love Him later in life. They were a Sister, a Priest, a Mother, a Father, a layperson, a Teacher, a Pope, a Bishop, a Farmer, a Martyr, a Mystic, a Sibling, a Mentor, a Friend, a Baby.... they could have been pretty much anything, but what they all had in common was their faith. When he/she died, they went to Heaven and are now living in Love with their Heavenly Father! ​ Patron of: There's a patron saint for pretty much anything! In case you're wondering why this post looks so different, November 1st is All Saints Day, so we're celebrating all of the saints, canonized and uncanonized this month! Read this amazing article from Catholic Answers that explains All Saints Day: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/whats-the-point-of-all-saints-day ​ All Saints Day is also the feast day of all the saints who are not celebrated on any other day in the liturgical calendar. We hope to someday be celebrated on this day too! Happy Feast Day to all the Saints!! Please pray for us!

There are hundreds of Christian denominations in the world, and thousands of non-denominational churches. When we live in a world with such division between Christians, it's reasonable to ask yourself, "is this what Christ intended?" No. The answer is no. Jesus wanted unity. Jesus wanted love. Jesus wanted his children to be united in one Church- the one that He began. Jesus even prayers for the unity of His people in the Gospels! John 17:23 "...I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity." John 17:21 "so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us..." Jesus formed one Church, not thousands of them. The word "unity" comes from the Latin word "unitas" which means, " oneness, unity; state of being one or undivided ." Thousands of different church es with different beliefs and styles of worship are not one, united, or undivided. Yes, we are all united by our Baptism, but Jesus doesn't just want us to be united in one thing, He desires that we are united with one another just as He and His Father are one. Jesus and God the Father are not split into thousands of pieces. They are one. And we, as Christians, are called to be the same. Christians, up until around 1054 when the Orthodox Christians split off from the original Christian Church, were unified. After that the next largest split was in 1517 when Martin Luther, an ex- monk broke off from the one, holy, catholic (meaning universal), and apostolic Church that Jesus Christ created and decided to start his own because He was not happy with a couple of the practices going on in the Church at his time.(Please read my comment at the bottom of the blog post). The thousands of protestant communities in existence today have splintered off of the ecclesial community that Martin Luther began, which split from the Church that Christ started while still on earth. The early Church was unified. Acts 4:32 says that "All the believers were one in heart and mind." St. Paul told them, "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought." (1 Corinthians 1:10) and " Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:1-6) St. Paul and Jesus both make it pretty clear that Christians are supposed to be unified. From the very beginning that was the deal. Christians were meant to be united in all things. So, we know that Christians were supposed to be united from the very beginning, and we know that in the majority of denominations and practices of Christianity unity is not happening, so is there really any Christian Church that has preserved their unity all these 2000 years since Jesus founded it? The answer is yes. The Church that Christ founded is still in existence and united as one body- the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ! The Church that Christ founded, the Church that Christ intended for all Christians to be a part of, is still alive and well today. And it's known as the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is the only Church that has preserved its unity, by the power of the Holy Spirit, since the year 33 A.D. when Jesus Christ founded it. There is one Theology, one Baptism, one Faith, one Body, one Spirit, and they are the ones that Jesus created and desired to be exemplified in His Church. Some Catholics might want to hold their own viewpoints and it's okay to have an opinion, but if we're really Catholic, we must follow what the Church Christ set up for us teaches instead of believing what we want to believe. So, is Christian unity still possible even though Christianity is so tragically splintered? Yes, it is! And Jesus knew that it was, which is why He created one Church for His people to be united in that the gates of hell will not prevail against and that will exist for eternity! Unity is possible. Unity is happening in the Catholic Church. And no, The Church is not perfect. This is to be expected, as the Church is a hospital for sinners, not a club for saints, but sinners, which we all are, are no excuse to break away from the Church. After all, if the problem is with sinners, why leave Christ behind? He did nothing wrong. As Catholic Christians we always need to be prepared to defend unity, Truth, and the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church that Christ founded and to tell others about it with love! It is love and Christ truly present in every Eucharist that has held the Church together these last 2000 years. So while so many people celebrate reformation Sunday today, (the Sunday before Oct. 31 when Martin Luther broke away from the Catholic Church) let's pray for unity among all Christians, so that we truly may be one once again as Christ wishes us to be. Comment on Martin Luther: Certain actions of certain people in the Church during Luther's time were not okay. The Church does take action to correct those who mistreat power. However, if your faith is in God and not in men and if you trust Jesus' words that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it", there's no reason to revolt against over a thousand years of Church teaching and do your own thing. Sources: https://www.wordsense.eu/unitas/

There are some quotes that seem to be EVERYWHERE! They are so popular and so widely used that they almost seem cliché. Here are some amazing quotes from saints and other holy people that you might not have seen before! Maybe you can find a new favorite... You could use them on bookmarks, write them on sticky notes and hide them for friends and family, or even just write them down in a notebook to look back on when you need some "holiness inspiration!" Saint Pope John Paul II “It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; He is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you; He is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is He who provoked you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is He who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is He who reads in your heart your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle." ~“The future starts today, not tomorrow.” ~“Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” ~“Ask yourselves, young people, about the love of Christ. Acknowledge His voice resounding in the temple of your heart. Return His bright and penetrating glance which opens the paths of your life to the horizons of the Church’s mission." ~“ What really matters in life is that we are loved by Christ and that we love Him in return . In comparison to the love of Jesus, everything else is secondary. And, without the love of Jesus, everything is useless.” ~“Dear young people, let yourselves be taken over by the light of Christ, and spread that light wherever you are.” St. Catherine of Sienna ~"If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!" ~“What is it you want to change? Your hair, your face, your body? Why? For God is in love with all those things and he might weep when they are gone.” ~“God is more willing to pardon than we have been to sin.” St. Thérèse of Lisieux ~"You cannot be half a saint; you must be a whole saint or no saint at all." ~"If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness." ~"Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love." ~"Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing else." ~“Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you- for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart… don’t listen to the demon, laugh at him, and go without fear to receive the Jesus of peace and love…” St. Padre Pio ~"Our Lord loves you and loves you tenderly; and if He does not let you feel the sweetness of His love, it is to make you more humble and abject in your own eyes." ~"Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer. " ~" Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother." ~" If you have the courage to imitate Mary Magdalene in her sins, have the courage to imitate her penance!" St. Gianna Molla ~“The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day.” ~“Our body is a cenacle, a monstrance: through its crystal the world should see God.” ~ "What is a vocation? It is a gift from God, so it comes from God. If it is a gift from God, our concern must be to know God's will. We must enter that path: if God wants, when God wants, how God wants. Never force the door." St. Teresa of Calcutta ~“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” ~“Peace begins with a smile..” ~“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” ~“A life not lived for others is not a life.” ~"If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway." Blessed Carlo Acutis ~ “Continuously ask your guardian angel for help. Your guardian angel has to become your best friend.” ~“The Eucharist is the highway to heaven.” ~"To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan”." ~"All people are born as originals but many die as photocopies” ~“Sadness is looking at ourselves, happiness is looking towards God.” Blessed Chiara Badano ~ “For you Jesus. If you want it, I want it, too!” ~“I have nothing left, but I still have my heart, and with that I can always love.” ~“I care only about doing the will of God, doing it well, in the present moment.” Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati ~" Jesus is with me. I have nothing to fear.” ~“Learn to be stronger in spirit than in your muscles. If you are you will be real apostles of faith in God.” ~“The times we are going through are difficult because cruel persecution of the Church is raging. But you bold and good young people should not be afraid of this small thing; remember that the Church is a divine institution and cannot come to an end. She will last till the end of the world. Not even the gates of hell can prevail against her.” ~“There is nothing more beautiful than love.” Venerable Fulton Sheen ~ "There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be." ~"God does not love us because we are valuable. We are valuable because God loves us." ~"It's impossible to lose your footing when you're on your knees." ~"The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white Host." St. Faustina Kowalska ~ “The past does not belong to me; the future is not mine; with all my soul I try to make use of the present moment.” ~“Have great confidence; God is always our Father, even when He sends us trials.” ~“And fear nothing, dear soul, whoever you are; the greater the sinner, the greater his right to Your mercy, O Lord." Do you have a favorite that's not on this list? Feel free to comment and let me know what it is!

Chiara was 19. Thérèse was 24. Maria was 11. Imelda was 11. Francisco was 10. Jacinta was 9. Philomena was 13. Carlo was 15. Our Church is full of young saints. These are just a few of them! Yesterday, Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager, was beatified by the Church. He is an extraordinary example of love and devotion for young people everywhere! You can find out more about Carlo's life here. All of these Saints and Blesseds were very young when the entered Heaven. They are extraordinary examples of virtue and love, but they were also just normal kids! Chiara loved sports and singing. Carlo was a computer genius (and he's also buried in a hoodie, which is amazing) None of these young people lived their lives doing extraordinary things. Their holiness was attained by their everyday lives, by works of charity, and by surrendering everything to Christ. So what do these amazing people have to teach us? Holiness is possible. It's possible for you, for me, for everybody. We can't be afraid of the world. Yes, it's crazy sometimes, but God is bigger and better than that. Life with Christ should be our biggest goal. Everyday life is not an excuse to not pray and not live out our faith, rather, it's an opportunity to do so even more!! Extraordinary virtue does not have to be only for the mystics and the theologians. We can become saints by sitting in a classroom, by playing soccer, by laughing with our friends, by doing chores. When Christ is the center of our lives, everything we do becomes a prayer. Every single action of our lives is helping us to become saints! These young people knew that and lived it out, which is why they are the Blesseds/Saints that they are today! Holiness is possible. Sainthood is possible. Yes, we are young, but our age does not define who we are! Jesus does. Our culture often looks down on our young generations as immature and irrational, but those assumptions do not need to be true. If you are a young person reading this blog right now, just know that You can be a saint! You can be holy! Jesus will help you to do both of those things! Do not let another moment go by without doing something to show that Sainthood is your goal. You are capable and you are worthy of becoming a saint. Offer your life to Jesus as a gift. God created us. He loves us. If we could not become saints, we wouldn't have been placed on this earth. So, in the words of Saint Pope John Paul II, "It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives!!" This desire for sainthood that you are feeling is real! Jesus wants it for you too! None of us, no matter our age, are too young for sainthood. Blessed Imelda Lambertini, Blessed Carlo Acutis, Blessed Chiara Badano, Saint Therese of Lisieux, Saint Maria Goretti, Saint Jacinta, Saint Francisco, Saint Philomena, All the amazing young saints, PRAY FOR US!!

In researching blog post ideas, I frequently come across blog post prompts. These can be anything from " You won't believe how easy it is to make_________!" to "Do these 5 things every day and you will__________" One of the most common types of blog posts is "(number) steps to _______" So that's what this blog post is all about! Just 9 steps to becoming a saint.* We are not too young to become saints! With God, all things are possible! Just look at Venerable Carlo Acutis, the modern Italian teenager and computer whiz who is going to beatified in 6 days! He was a normal teenager with an extraordinary faith, and we can be just like him! 1. Be open to grace. Being open to grace is arguably the most important part of becoming a saint. If we are not open to God's working in our lives we are never going to make it to Heaven. Without Him, we are nothing and we can do nothing. Without the grace of God, there is absolutely no possible way that we can make it to Heaven. We can't do it on our own, which is why God gives us grace! Are you open to God's grace and His working in your life? Challenge: Tell God that you are open to His grace in your life. Learn more about God's amazing grace here ! 2. Frequent the sacraments. The sacraments and prayer are the closest we can get to Heaven while still on earth. In the Eucharist we receive Christ's body and blood, soul and divinity and our hearts are united with Him. In the sacrament of reconciliation, God wipes our souls clean when we confess our sins to Him through the priest who is in the person of Christ. In the sacrament of Matrimony, we see Christ's marriage to His one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. In the sacrament of Baptism our sins are wiped away and we are welcomed into the family of God. These are only 4 of the seven sacraments, but what they all have in common is that they more fully unite us to God and give us even more grace to get to Heaven! They help us to remain united with Jesus so fully that we become one with Him. Challenge: Come back to the sacraments! Even if you were just at Mass last weekend, go again as soon as you can! Get to confession! If you're not baptized, go to your priest and ask how he can make that happen! 3. Pray, pray, pray!! As I mentioned before, the sacraments and prayer are the closest we can get to Heaven while still on earth. As St. Teresa of Avila said, "Prayer is a friendly conversation with the One we know loves us." That's what prayer is. Simply talking with someone you love nd who loves you in return. God is our friend, He's our lover, and He's our savior. Just as a friendship can't survive without god communication, our relationship with God cannot survive without prayer because prayer is our communication with God! Challenge: Use the P.R.A.Y. (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield) acronym to talk to God. You can write out your prayers in a journal. Just write letters to God like you would to friend. 4. Stay close to the Blessed Mother. Mary is amazing. She is the Mother of God and our spiritual Mother too. She cares for us and loves us and wants more than anything for us to be in Heaven with her Son. She is also a wonderful example of accepting God's will for your life, which is another essential part of sainthood. Ask Mary to intercede for you and help you to become a saint! If there is a certain sin you are struggling with, ask Mary for help. If you are in a rough situation, ask Mary for help. If you don't know what to do, ask Mary for help. She will always lead you closer and closer to Her son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Challenge: Pray the Rosary ! Talk to your Heavenly Mama! 5. Ask your Guardian Angel and Patron Saints to help. Along with the Blessed Mother, the saints and angels are wonderful in helping us get to Heaven. They are there to help us! "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life." (St. Basil, Adv. Eunomium III, I: PG 29,656B.) Our Guardian angels are shepherds leading us to life. This means that they are here to protect us in this life and lead us to eternal life in the next. (yay!!) Challenge: Pray the Guardian Angel Prayer and look up a prayer to your favorite saint. 6. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid! Remember that "... neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." And because of that, we have no reason to be afraid. God is in control. As St. Therese says, “A soul in the state of grace has nothing to fear from the devil, who is a coward, and will even fly from the gaze of a little child.” Challenge: Step out of your comfort zone- do not be afraid! Do something for God that you would not ordinarily be comfortable doing. 7. Read the Bible. Simply stated, the Bible is God's love story. Reading and praying the Bible will help you to come to know and serve the Lord more fully in this life so that you can be happy with Him in the next. Challenge: Read 1 book of the Bible. Start with one of the Gospels! (Don't try to read it from Genesis to Revelation) 8. Love. Love your neighbor. Love your friends. Love your teachers. Love your parents. Love that homeless woman on the street. Love the political candidate that you don't agree with at all. Love that little girl on the playground. Love Jesus. Love everybody. Love is willing the good of another. Love is sacrificial. Love is complete. God is Love. Challenge: Read John 13:34-35 9. Acknowledge that it's difficult. Becoming a Saint is not going to be easy. The saints follow in the footsteps of Christ, and while Christ walked a way of love and truth and light, He also walked to the cross. Be open to suffering. Embrace it, just as Jesus did His cross. We will be persecuted for our faith, people might not like us or understand us. But they didn't like Jesus either. All the saints that have gone before us have had numerous crosses which they bore with grace and dignity, relying on the mercy and love of God to give them strength. Challenge: Help someone else who has a heavy cross. Thank someone who has helped you carry yours. Jesus loves you immensely and He wants you to be a Saint. To achieve sainthood, all you have to do is get to Heaven. Becoming a canonized saint, well, that's a topic for another blog post :-) Know that we, by the grace and power of God, can become saints!!We can do it! I believe in us, the Church believes in us, and most of all, God believes in us. We shouldn't be afraid. These times that we are living in are giving people tons of crosses to bear. Know that it is in these times of tribulation and struggle that God raises up the next generation of amazing saints! “Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” - Saint Pope John Paul the Second

This month's saint is St. Therese of Lisieux whose feast day is October 1st. Therese Martin was born in 1873 to a loving family. She grew up with 4 older sisters. When her mom died when she was 4, Therese's sisters took on the role of her motherly figure. Therese grew up as a normal child for her age but was very sensitive. At age 9 after a spiritual experience, Therese decided that she wanted to become a Carmelite nun. After receiving Jesus in Holy Communion for the first time, Therese was struck with a bad case of scrupulosity. On Christmas eve in 1886, Therese had another conversion. She described it as having all the tears of her childhood dried up! She then poured herself out in loving others and making little sacrifices for souls until she could enter the convent at 15 years old. Therese spent the rest of her short life praying for the world and making sacrifices for souls. Her "little way" spirituality has inspired thousands of people and is described in her autobiography Story Of A Soul . There was nothing very special about her, and she was just seen as another nun. But it was what was inside that counted. Therese felt that she could not do great things on earth, so she instead trusted in the mercy of her beloved Jesus, and believed that He would do it for her. This was her "little way". "It is impossible for me to grow up, so I must bear with myself such as I am with all my imperfections. But I want to seek out a means of going to heaven by a little way, a way that is very straight, very short and totally new. I wanted to find an elevator which would raise me to Jesus, for I am too small to climb the rough stairway of perfection. I searched then in the Scriptures for some sign of this elevator, the object of my desires and I read these words coming from the mouth of Eternal Wisdom: 'Whoever is a little one let him come to me.' The elevator which must raise me to heaven is your arms, O Jesus, and for this I have no need to grow up, but rather I have to remain little and become this more and more," In living her "little way" Therese accepted the little sacrifices that God sent her way. If an older Sister was being grumpy, Therese smiled and dealt with her in love. It was little things like this that made her so great. On September 30, 1897, Therese entered Heaven where she was immensely happy. She said 2 years before her death, " I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses." And she certainly has! St. Therese is a powerful intercessor and a wonderful example of holiness for all. Millions of people are inspired by her story to live their lives in the "little way" of coming closer to Jesus and standing at foot of the cross as a little child. The rose has been seen as a gift from Therese, a sign that she is watching over you :-) She is a Doctor of the Church (only the 3rd woman ever!!) and was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925. She is the youngest person ever to become a Doctor of the Church. (Go young people!!) If you'd like to learn more about St.Therese, you ca n find her autobiography on Amazon as well as at many religious and secular bookstores. St Therese, pray for us that we may learn to be little , just as you were little. Hear our prayers and intercede for us before God! Show us how to trust and love him completely as you did. St Therese of Lisieux, pray for us!! Source: https://www.littleflower.org/ Story of A Soul : https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/story-of-a-soul-the-autobiography-of-st-therese-of-lisieux_thrse-de-lisieux/253034/item/1753236/?mkwid=%7cdc&pcrid=450663950280&pkw=&pmt=&slid=&plc=&pgrid=104669221093&ptaid=pla-929394388770&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtsv7BRCmARIsANu-CQeOn_CMAL3qFoSVJa7YoS3iw9AhQJgcCpCTNjW-CEfDlds5h-fBuf8aAu6tEALw_wcB#isbn=0895555484&idiq=1753236