We often hear about our vocation to become a saint. But what is a saint? And why does the Church honor saints?
In this episode, Fr. Blake and Brandon discuss the theology of saints, how that theology is rooted in the Incarnation, and, most importantly, how we can become saints ourselves.
Great episode! I’ve lately been drawn to St. Monica as I navigate the waters of parenting teens and longing for their hearts to yearn for Jesus as they live in this culture. I love how much she devoted her maternal life and heart to her son’s own life and heart, even when (especially when?) he was sucked in by the culture around him.
Great saint! She is a wonderful helper of mothers
I loved this episode! The idea of learning about a saint who is different from yourself especially resonated with me. I am a deeply intellectual person have always gravitated towards saints like St. Catherine of Siena and St. Thomas Aquinas. My 2.5 year old daughter is, however, drawn at some deep level to St. Therese of Lisieux. Since she was a year old, Camille has pointed out St. Therese on prayer cards, statues, and in images and she talks about her regularly. In an effort to foster this devotion my child shows, I have made an effort to learn about a saint who I wouldn’t have sought out on my own. Learning about St. Therese and her Little Way has benefitted our family so much.
Loved this presentation. Lots of ideas to think about. Thank you. Need to get started on your ideas. Many ideas I have not thought about before.
Thank you for being instruments of God. You are teaching me so much and it makes me happy to be able to understand and agree with everything you both say. For example before today, I was a little confused about “body parts” as relics, but now I totally understand!! I love having those “ah-ha” moments! As for some of my favorite saints, I have too many to name. But here are a few…Saint Padre Pio for his love and loyalty in the confessional, Saint Therese the Little Flower for her simple and pure ways of loving our Lord, Saint Francis of Assisi for his passionate and humorous ways of rebuilding the church. Saint Dymphna for her courage to put God first and stay pure till death and for her compassion for the mentally ill. Saint Mother Teresa for her true love for Christ and how she saw our Lord in the poor and forgotten and was able to love each one she served as Jesus. Too many to name. I love the Saints and thank our Lord for their excellent example of how to truly love and follow our Lord.
Great to hear Linda. The Lord is so good!
These podcasts are excellent. Brandon and Father are amazing. I have learned so much.
Thanks Brandon and Father Blake for this inspiring podcast on how to become a saint! I like Therese of Lisieux and Catherine of Sienna.
Thank you once again. I feel like a sponge and so happy when I hear the two of you sharing our faith and our walk with Jesus. I have so much to read and learn.
I like St. Ignatius of Loyola and how he came to read the Bible. I love Fulton Sheen and have heard his Life Worth Living episodes via You Tube. I started collecting his books but am no where near finished reading them. The Priest is Not His Own was wonderful and I wish it was required reading for all priest. And of course the Seven Last Words which is a Lenten must read at least once. For some reason I am drawn to St. Catherine of Siena but I haven’t read her. I do have a book and maybe I should move it to the top of the pile.
I really appreciated the remark about going to Confession with Joy. I frequent Confession each Saturday because I forget if I don’t go that often and I need it so much to stay on the right path. But I am going to focus more on confessing with Joy. Peace be with you.
Thank you Sally. What a wonderful comment!
Terrific podcast. Thank you so very much, and always wishing you God’s blessings!@
This podcast has been my favorite. So many inspiring thoughts and challenges. I have been struggling, trying to figure what God wants me to do or how to “be myself”. It takes prayer and openness to God and His graces to discern this and I also struggle with that! Fr., you referred to being where we are and that really hits home. Thank you. I know I will listen to this often. Thank you.
I find myself drawn to St. Padre Pio and have prayed with him and read some about him. Is there a good book that embodies his life you might suggest? Brandon, I know you must have an answer to this. I’ve taken you “Read More Books” course . 🙂
God bless you with this ministry!
Thank you so much CAL. Great to hear
Well done.
What a delight way to get to know Christ through the saints.
“Joy in finding Christ”.
Kay Dahms
St. Hildegard of Bingen. My journey to becoming Catholic began with reading about the Oblates of Benedict.
I like to start morning prayer by inviting a cadre of saints to pray with. The Blessed Mother, of course; St. Joseph, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Robert Bellarmine, St. Padre Pio, St. Gemma Galgani, St. Justin Martyr, St. Robert Southwell, St. Margaret of Cortona, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Julian of Norwich (not officially a Catholic saint, but a Saint all the same for her Revelations of Divine Love). I often include Blessed Casimir Wyszynski, and Blessed Mother Marie Adele Garnier. It will take the rest of my life to really know them all. Thank you for this podcast.
Beautiful spiritual practice. I may steal that from you. haha!
Thank you!! Another great podcast!! As a Secular Discalced Carmelite, I have many Carmelite saints that I love!!
St. Teresa of Avila – taught me about sacrificial suffering from her love of the crucified Jesus
St. John of the Cross – taught me about detachment, Nada, Nada!
St. Terese of Lisieux – taught me that God’s love is greater than my falls into sin
St. Elizabeth of the Trinity – “Let yourself be loved.”
I also appreciated your steps to holiness.
Prayer – gives me a relationship with Jesus
Sacraments – give me in confession a place to repent and be advised; in the Eucharist a gift that feeds my soul
Reading and Watching – making time to be filled by holy and good books and videos
Socially – surrounding myself with people of prayer
I look forward to every podcast and wonder how you both manage to find the time with all that you do!! May God bless you in all your ministries!
I must mention one more path to holiness, Adoration!!
Many saints speak of spending one hour every day in front of the exposed Eucharist. I believe some of them were Pope Saint John Paul II, Mother Teresa, and Bishop Sheen. Every single day!! That is hard for those of us who live in the world! But even one hour every week will make a difference in our lives! Cardinal Sarah in his book The Power of Silence urges us to find silence beyond the noise of this world. What better place than in the presence of Our Lord?
Great point! Eucharist is always at the center of holiness!
Great podcast! I’m enjoying all the topics so much! My takeaway for this one: how God calls you to be yourself. This is actually very profound and difficult to embrace in the noise of the world. Taking it to prayer.
I’m a new Catholic convert and am just learning about the saints.
Around this time last year, I lost my engagement ring. I was devastated! It obviously meant so much to me and my husband had saved up for so long to buy it. I was crying seeing my hand without it on and had no idea where it could have gone. In desperation I looked to see if there was a saint who could help me find it and came across St Anthony. I told him, if you help me find this ring, I’ll learn all about you and make you the first saint I talk to.
One day later my husband found it out of nowhere. I read about St Anthony and, to my surprise, felt a connection with him I’d never felt before with a saint. I felt as if he cared about me, somehow, rather than was just a historical figure. I prayed the St Anthony prayer and started involving him in my prayers more and more.
I feel like I’ve lost a lot in my life, to the point where it really impacts me to call him ‘St Anthony, finder of lost things’. I grew up with a large, close family that after a few bad events drifted apart and have often felt like I was alone in the world. After asking St Anthony to help me find my family again, he reunited me with my sister, something I thought was impossible. She is visiting me tomorrow and we get on really well.
I’ve dedicated the 2021 liturgical year to him.
I still don’t know much about the saints, but am looking forward to finding more of them to help guide me. If St Anthony is anything to go by, they are amazing.
3 Saints on an Island? For me, I’d have to choose at least one that actually walked with Jesus…although St. Peter is tempting, I’d probably choose St. John just because of his long life and stewardship of Mary. After that, I’d probably go with both St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas…not only because of their prolific offerings and insights, but to listen to their discussions and debates every day! Plus, those 2 brains will probably come up with the solution for getting off the island and back to the world…assuming I even wanted to go back being in that august company. If I could squeak in a 4th, it’d be my wife Chris who is sure to be a recognized Saint one day…
Hi, Brandon and Fr. Blake! Thank you for this podcast on how we can become saints. Growing up, I loved reading the lives of the saints. We were taught that we should imitate the saints. This kind of thinking sort of fell off during the 70s, but I am happy to see that our love and appreciation for the saints has been revived. Thanks be to God! My favorite saint is St. Teresa of Avila. When I was reading the Autobiography, I discovered that she used to sing, dance, and play the tambourine on feast days with her sisters. Being a pastoral musician, I can truly appreciate that facet of her personality. I feel a kinship with her. Also, I feel kinship because she worked to reform her order–she saw that there had been lapses and moved forward with purpose. I see myself in her determination: I have also worked toward fostering a revival in love for the teachings of the Church through Adult Faith Formation. Now a challenge would be to find a saint that I cannot find anything to relate to. I will have to think about this, but I appreciate it as a spiritual exercise. Keep up the great podcasts! Brandon, I have read and loved two of your books, namely, Why I Am Catholic (I am a “cradle” Catholic); and Return. Thank you for these! God bless you both always!
My favorite Saint is Juan de la Cruz who literally jumped from the pages of a book I was reading called “Soul Friend” and became my guide into a new life in Christ. I had never heard of him before and when I began reading “The Complete Works of John of the Cross” I understood what it meant without formal theology training. That was over 35 years ago but he is with me still through graduate studies, and working for the Church after some years in journalism and radio.
Great topic today. Keep it up!
You both have great energy and a love for the Lord.
Mary Randall, BA, MA, MaC,
LMHC, Oblate of Saint Benedict