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The recent canonizations of Kateri Tekakwitha and Marianne Cope fill me with unexpected joy. I am always grateful to have models of holiness to emulate. I enjoy reading about the lives and faith of saints. Still, the fact that these two women have ties to upstate New York somehow makes them more accessible to me. They are not remote. They lived right here in New York state. And they were holy enough that the church has chosen to recognize them in this special way.
These canonizations make me want to examine my own life. I ask myself whether I have any of the qualities that these women possessed. I wonder if it would be possible for me to be as strong in my faith as these two women. Do I stand up for the truths of my faith in the face of opposition, or do I remain silent and go along with the crowd? Do I give all that I can to serve others? When I look at people in difficult circumstances — poverty, illness, loss — do I embrace the Christ in them, or do I turn away from their humanity and their problems?
Somehow, the canonizations of these two women challenge me to strengthen my own commitment to living and spreading the Gospel. Thinking about these two women makes me want to make sure that I am teaching the faith to my children. At one point in their lives, these two were little girls learning about the world and noticing the grace of God around them. I wonder what more I can do to help my own children find God at work in our world and in their lives.
In addition to challenging me, the canonizations also comfort me. These women heard God’s call and answered. We all can follow in their footsteps. We all can be holy.
