I remember as a kid decorating my bedroom with posters of cricket and football players, individuals who I idolised and wanted to imitate. I never really thought anything of it, until I became a father and started to reflect on whose image I’d like to see on my children’s bedroom walls.

These days I find myself admiring lesser-known individuals. Family members, friends, work colleagues and others. Sometimes even strangers, like the checkout operator who deals with an angry customer with grace and patience. Or the teenager on the train who immediately gives up his/her seat when an elderly person boards.

With the overwhelming amount of media content available these days, most of us still admire a celebrity or two for various reasons. After all, sometimes we see and read more about the life of a celebrity than we do about the ordinary folk in our neighbourhood.

In a similar way, as Catholics we might have a particular devotion to and love for certain saints. Those who are celebrated in the Church’s liturgical year, who have had books written about them, and maybe even movies made, tend to be very popular.

On November 1, the Church celebrates the feast of All Saints. It’s a day when we remember especially the millions of faithful disciples of Jesus on earth whom Pope Francis calls the saints “next door”^[1].

In the spiritual classic Divine Intimacy, Fr Gabriel of St Mary Magdalen OCD describes these hidden saints as follows:

“The great majority are entirely unknown to us. They are humble people who lived obscurely in the accomplishment of duty, without display, without renown, whom no one here below remembers, but whom the heavenly Father looked upon, knew in secret, and, having proved their fidelity, called to His glory.”^[2]

Perhaps you know a deceased friend, family member or acquaintance whose life was filled with joy, peace, mercy, purity and gentleness. Take time to reflect upon their virtues today and how you might be able to imitate their gestures of love and mercy, and in doing so, perpetuate their presence in the world.

And remember that sainthood is not something reserved only for those in monasteries or convents – it is something that every person can achieve, and indeed is called to. That includes the local shopkeeper, the postman, the school cleaner. Even your next door neighbour.

^[1] Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, 2018.

^[2] Fr Gabriel of St Mary Magdalen OCD (1953). Divine Intimacy, Baronius Press, p 1131.

Image: Lightstock
Words: Matthew Biddle