The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-10-31
DEVOTION TO THE SAINTS.
lnduigenced General Intention for
November.

november.
II is not surprising that the Holy
Father has asked the members of the
League of the Sacred Heart to pray
fervently for a widespread increase of
devotion to the saints No one who
has followed attentively the course of
his pontificate can fail to observe the
zeal and energy with which he has en-
deavored to enldndle in all hearts that
fire of divine love which burned so ar
IDENTIFY in the souls of the saints He
would have us understand that what is
most needed in order to restore all
things in Christ is not profound learn
ing or skill in controversy or even zeal
Tor souls. but rather true and sincere
holiness of life. He wishes us all first
TO reform our own souls and to adorn
them with sanctity before we proceed
TO convert others. Charity, he would
remind US, begins at home. If each and
every Catholic would take uo i'm ear
nest the work Of sanctifying his own
soul and making ii more and more
pleasing to God. the task of converting
mankind TO the knowledge and love of
Jesus Christ would with the help of
Gods grace become comparatively
easy.
The church has always been solicitous
in urging cue homage and veneration
To the saints. They are the choicest
products of her abors and the living
proof Of the efficacy OF her doctrines,
her precepts and her means of grace.
In the lives of the saints we see the
practical results which the Catholic re-
igion is capable of accomplishing in
elevating human beings like ourselves
to plane Of noble, sublime, and god
like life The church rejoices in their
achievements because they show forth
her diyinely given power to sanctify
mankind and thus promote the glory of
God. As We all know. her chief aim
The very reason of her existence, is the
sanctification Of souls. For the attain
ment of this end she received from our
Divine Lord her three-fold office and
authority as teacher, priest and pastor
Strongly as she insists on faith in all
her doctrines. the worthy reception of
her sacraments. and obedience to her
laws. she reminds US that all these are
subsidiary to the hearty or supernat-
ural love Of God and our neighbor in
which holiness essentially consists.
What the church principally intends.
however, in recommending devotion to
the saints. is that we should initiate
their example This implies that we
should regrad them as our models and
endeavor to follow closely in their foot
steps, as they followed i'm the footsteps
Of Jesus and Mary. To do this is not
50 difficult as it appears at first sight.
Gods grace Will never be wanting to
us il we ask for it. and with the help
of that grace sanctity can be attained
in any walk of life. Christian perfec-
ton consists in perfect charity-in the
complete dominion Of divine love over
all our thoughts, words. desires and ac-
tons This charity becomes perfect
L. - L.
not only what is contrary to charity
mortal sin-but also whatever prevents
us from giving our hearts wholly to
God. Be our state of life what it NAV.
we are in the path of the saints if we
truly love God above all things and
are free from inordinate attachment to
the world and to self. so that we love
all things else only in their relation to
God This was the secret of success
in the saints, and it is within our reach
as completely as it was in theirs Let
US but strive to initiate them and Gods
help viii not be lacking to assist us in
our efforts. Keeping in view the super
natural motive which inspired them
and praying as they did for divine
grace, we can sanctify and render mer-
itorious even the most trivial duties
and ordinary actions Of our daily lives.
As devotion to the saints becomes more
earnest and widespread among all
classes. the resolution to initiate their
example VIII become more universal.
and the result will be great increase
of love for God and for the Sacred
Heart of our Divine Lord
One Of the most important effects of
devotion to the saints is that it places
clearly before our minds the true and
proper ideals or standards of life. !
There is a strong tendency in all of us
toward hero worship. and it makes A |
great difference who, and of what char |
acter. the heroes are. The world has its
great men whom it honors, whose deeds |
it recounts, whose memory il cherishes |
and whose achievements it holds up to |
the admiration and imitation of others. |
Why should not the church in like |
manner have her heroes of the cross to |
whom her children may look up as to |
their models. and from the considera-
ton of whose lives they may derive |
strength and inspiration in the battle !
Of life? When we honor the worlds !
heroes, however deserving they may be |
Of our respect from q natural point OF |
view, there is always the danger that |
we may be led astray by false or made |
quate standards of life. and this danger |
is avoided or counteracted by due ven |
Grafton of the saints. For we are thus |
reminded that the true aim of life is |
not to acquire honor or wealth or fame
or any form Of earthly happiness. but |
to know, love and serve God. and to |
love our neighbor for Gods sake.-Mes-
senger Of the Sacred Heart.
-----