Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it


As we draw to the end of my time in Fátima (today is last day volunteering and tomorrow at some point Mike and I will return to SVD in Lisboa for the night and then flight home Tuesday morning!!!!!!), I want to continue to reflect on the theme of holiness.

The word "holiness" seems have come up a lot during my time in Europe. (I've also blogged about spiritual healing, which of course, will lead to a deepening of holiness.) The theme of holiness shouldn't be a shock to me, as the whole goal of the Christian's life should be an increase in their personal holiness, as well as to live their lives so others see in them something different and it creates a desire for them to be holy as well.

As this thought was occurring to me, I immediately thought of the last line of the Litany of Humility:

That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

When people (specifically here in Portugal) have found out I am a seminarian, their eyes light up with hope and joy. Most have taken my name to add me to their monthly prayer group which prayers for vocations. I am extremely touched by and grateful for the deep faith of these people and their resolve to pray for vocations within the universal Church.

IF the Father is calling me to serve His people in the ministerial priesthood, I will need to help the people of God grow in their own holiness and sanctification. For that to happen, I need to make sure that I am myself a holy man, a man of prayer, and a man deeply in love and in relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. If I am not living the most holy life possible, how can I expect the people I serve to lead holy lives?

As the beautiful petition states, I should be as holy as possible so that others may become holier than I.

Well, challenge accepted. I pray that through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary I may live a life so on fire for the Lord that others will desire to follow Him as well. AMDG!

Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Beatos Francisco e Jacinta e todos os anjos e santos de Deus Omnipotente... Rogai por nós!

--KPL


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