How Do You Get to Be a Saint?

It was my first year teaching. Each morning I faced my class of twelve grade ones and twenty-five grade twos, wondering just what surprises that day would bring!

As part of their religion program, I tried to introduce them to the various saints as their feast days appeared on the liturgical calendar. Then along came November first, feast of all the saints! And I was away to the races.

We named as many saints as we could, then I reminded them that everyone in heaven was a saint – so what about grandma, who died last year, or that kind old gentleman who lived across the road? Everybody is meant to be a saint!

"But what did they do to get to heaven?" I asked, expecting answers like "They did what their mummies told them," or "They said their morning prayers." All went well until I called on Olive, a grade one student not yet turned six. Solemnly she stood up and said, "They’re in heaven because they loved God."

End of lesson. I have never, before or since, had the rug so neatly pulled out from under my feet. And she was right, wasn’t she? It’s all a matter of love.

We are all called to join that heavenly crowd by loving God, a love which extends beyond God to all God’s creation. And so we love our family, our neighbor – even our enemies – and are caring of all the earth.

Happy loving... and see you in heaven!

By Mary Buckley CSJ