What is the communion of saints? The Pope explains"With the saints we can weave a relationship of friendship."The Pope's appeal in the 177 points of his Exhortation Gaudete et exultate (Rejoice and be glad), is still current, even though five and a half years have passed since 2018. It is enough to examine the 125 notes of the exhortation to verify that it was not a flower of a day.
The following are abundant quotations from the dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium of the Vatican Council, of his predecessors Benedict XVI, St. John Paul II, in particular in his Letter Novo millenio ineunteThe following are some of the most important sources of information: from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, St. Paul VI in Evangelii Nuntiandi, from saints, Fathers of the Church, theologians, philosophers and spiritual authors.
"We are moved," the Pope wrote, "by the example of so many priests, nuns, religious and lay people who dedicate themselves to proclaiming and serving with great fidelity, often at the risk of their lives and certainly at the cost of their comfort. Their witness reminds us that the Church does not need so many bureaucrats and civil servants, but passionate missionaries, consumed by the enthusiasm to communicate true life. The saints surprise, unsettle, because their lives invite us to get out of the quiet and anesthetizing mediocrity".
But also, the clear words of his points 1 and 2: "He wants us to be holy and does not expect us to settle for a mediocre, watered-down, liquefied existence. In fact, from the very first pages of the Bible, the call to holiness is present in various ways. This is what the Lord proposed to Abraham: "Walk in my presence and be perfect" (Gn 17,1). And those of St. Paul to the Ephesians: "For each of us the Lord chose 'that we should be holy and blameless before him in love'" (Ef 1,4).
"Saints next door."
And the well-known expression of Francis about the "saints next door" in this context: "Let us not think only of those already beatified or canonized. The Holy Spirit pours out holiness everywhere, on God's holy and faithful people, because 'it was God's will to sanctify and save men, not in isolation, without any connection with one another, but by constituting a people, who would confess him in truth and serve him in holiness'" (Lumen gentium).
"I like to see holiness in the patient people of God," the Pontiff added, "in the parents who raise their children with so much love, in those men and women who work to bring home bread, in the sick, in the elderly sisters who continue to smile. In this constancy to go on day by day, I see the holiness of the Church militant. This is often the holiness 'next door', of those who live close to us and are a reflection of the presence of God, or, to use another expression, 'the middle class of holiness'".
Five manifestations of love for God and neighbor
Here is a synthesis of some notes of sanctity, five in particular, as collected by the Pope in his Gaudete et exultate. They are the following: 1) Endurance, patience and gentleness. 2) Joy and sense of humor. 3) Boldness and fervor. 4) In community. And 5) In constant prayer.
"I will not dwell on the means of sanctification that we already know: the various methods of prayer, the precious sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation, the offering of sacrifices, the various forms of devotion, spiritual direction, and so many others. I will only refer to some aspects of the call to holiness that I hope will resonate in a special way," Francis explains.
1) Endurance, patience and gentleness.
The first of these great notes is "to be centered, firm around God who loves and sustains. From this inner firmness it is possible to endure, to withstand the setbacks, the ups and downs of life, and also the aggressions of others, their infidelities and defects: "If God is with us, who will be against us?" (Rm 8,31). This is the source of the peace that is expressed in the attitudes of a saint".
From such interior solidity, the witness of holiness, in our accelerated, fickle and aggressive world, is made of patience and constancy in doing good. It is the fidelity of love, because he who relies on God (pistis) can also be faithful in front of the siblings (pistós), does not abandon them in bad times, does not let himself be carried away by his anxiety and stands by others even when it does not bring him immediate satisfaction".
2) Joy and sense of humor
"What has been said so far does not imply a listless, sad, sour, melancholy spirit, or a low profile without energy," the Holy Father adds. "The saint is capable of living with joy and a sense of humor. Without losing realism, he enlightens others with a positive and hopeful spirit. To be a Christian is 'joy in the Holy Spirit' (Rm 14:17), because 'the love of charity is necessarily followed by joy, for every lover rejoices in union with the beloved [...] Hence the consequence of charity is joy'".
"Mary, who knew how to discover the newness that Jesus brought, sang: 'My spirit rejoices in God, my Savior' (Lc 1:47) and Jesus himself 'was filled with joy in the Holy Spirit' (Lc 10,21). When he passed by 'all the people rejoiced' (Lc 13,17). After his resurrection, wherever the disciples went there was great joy (cf. Ac 8,8). To us, Jesus gives an assurance: 'You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. [...] I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy' (Jn 16,20.22). I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full' (Jn 15,11)".
Francis acknowledges that "there are hard moments, times of the cross, but nothing can destroy supernatural joy, which 'adapts and transforms itself, and always remains at least as an outbreak of light that is born of the personal certainty of being infinitely loved, beyond all else. It is an inner security, a hopeful serenity that brings a spiritual satisfaction incomprehensible to worldly parameters."
3) Boldness and fervor
The Pope continues in his Exhortation with boldness. "Holiness is membershipIt is audacity, it is an evangelizing thrust that leaves a mark on this world," he writes. "To make this possible, Jesus himself comes to meet us and repeats to us with serenity and firmness: 'Do not be afraid' (Mc 6,50). I am with you always, to the end of the age' (Mt 28,20)".
"These words allow us to walk and serve with that attitude full of courage that aroused the Holy Spirit in the Apostles and led them to proclaim Jesus Christ," he encourages. "Boldness, enthusiasm, speaking freely, apostolic fervor, all of these are included in the word. membershipThe Bible also uses this word to express the freedom of an existence that is open because it is available to God and to others (cf. Ac 4,29; 9,28; 28,31; 2Co 3,12; Ef 3,12; Hb 3,6; 10,19).
4) In community
The Holy Father warns that "it is very difficult to fight against our own concupiscence and against the snares and temptations of the devil and the selfish world if we are isolated. Such is the bombardment that seduces us that, if we are too much alone, we easily lose our sense of reality, our inner clarity, and we succumb".
"Sanctification is a communitarian journey, two by two," he explains. "This is reflected in some holy communities. On several occasions the Church has canonized entire communities that heroically lived the Gospel or that offered to God the lives of all their members. Let us think, for example, of the seven founding saints of the Order of the Servants of Mary, of the seven blessed religious of the first monastery of the Visitation in Madrid, of St. Paul Miki and companions martyred in Japan, of St. Andrew Kim Taegon and companions martyred in Korea, in St. Roque Gonzalez, St. Alphonsus Rodriguez and companions martyred in South America. Let us also remember the recent testimony of the Trappist monks of Tibhirine (Algeria), who prepared together for martyrdom".
"Similarly, there are many holy marriageswhere each one was an instrument of Christ for the sanctification of the spouse. Living or working with others is undoubtedly a path of spiritual development. St. John of the Cross said to a disciple: you are living with others 'so that they may work and exercise you,'" the Pontiff recalled.
"Community life, whether in the family, in the parish, in the religious community or in any other, is made up of many small daily details. This was the case in the holy community formed by Jesus, Mary and Joseph, where the beauty of Trinitarian communion was reflected in a paradigmatic way. It is also what happened in the community life that Jesus led with his disciples and with the simple people".
5) In constant prayer
"Finally," says the Pope, "although it may seem obvious, let us remember that holiness is made up of a habitual openness to transcendence, which is expressed in prayer and adoration. The saint is a person with a prayerful spirit, who needs to communicate with God. He is someone who cannot bear to suffocate in the closed immanence of this world, and in the midst of his efforts and dedication he sighs for God, goes out of himself in praise and expands his limits in the contemplation of the Lord. I do not believe in holiness without prayer, even if it does not necessarily involve long moments or intense feelings".
On this point, the Pope quotes St. John of the Cross, who "recommended that we should always strive to walk in the presence of God, whether real, imaginary or unitive, according to what the works we are doing allow us to do". (...) "Nevertheless, for this to be possible, some moments alone for God, in solitude with him, are also necessary. For St. Teresa of Avila, prayer is 'trying to be friends while we are often alone with the one we know loves us'.
From the Word to the Eucharist, with Mary
"The encounter with Jesus in the Scriptures leads us to the Eucharist, where that same Word attains its maximum efficacy, because it is the real presence of the One who is the living Word". In conclusion, the Pope writes: "I want Mary to crown these reflections, because she lived the beatitudes of Jesus like no one else (...) She is the saint among the saints, the most blessed, the one who teaches us the way of holiness and accompanies us. To converse with her consoles, liberates and sanctifies us. The Mother does not need many words, we do not need to make too much effort to explain to her what is happening to us. It is enough to whisper over and over again: 'Hail Mary...'".
