THM Blog

Tag: priest

  • The Universal Call to Sainthood

    Learning from Saint Josemaría Escrivá and the Saints

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    Many Christians frequently ask one another, “Please pray for me.” We understand the power of prayer and the importance of bringing our needs before God. In the same spirit, Catholics often ask the saints in Heaven to pray for them as well.

    This practice is rooted in the belief that those who have faithfully followed Christ and now dwell in Heaven remain part of the Body of Christ. Just as we ask friends and family on earth to pray for us, we ask the saints to intercede for us before God.

    Before someone is officially declared a saint by the Catholic Church, their life is carefully examined. Their virtues, writings, actions, and devotion to God are scrutinized. In most cases, miracles attributed to their intercession are also investigated. This thorough process gives Catholics confidence that these holy men and women are indeed with God in Heaven and can present our petitions before Him.

    Yet the saints are much more than heavenly intercessors.

    They are role models.

    They show us what a life fully devoted to God looks like. Their lives provide a blueprint for holiness that we can follow in our own circumstances.

    One saint who strongly emphasized this truth was Saint Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei.

    Saint Josemaría taught a revolutionary yet deeply biblical message: every person is called to be a saint.

    Not just priests.

    Not just religious sisters and brothers.

    Not just missionaries.

    Every Christian.

    Whether we are parents, teachers, business owners, students, retirees, or laborers, God calls each of us to holiness through our ordinary daily lives.

    Saint Josemaría often spoke about finding God in everyday work and ordinary duties. He believed that our daily tasks, when offered to God with love, become opportunities for sanctification.

    Changing a diaper.

    Preparing a meal.

    Working in an office.

    Driving a truck.

    Teaching a classroom.

    Caring for an aging parent.

    All of these can become pathways to holiness when done with love for God and neighbor.

    This message is especially encouraging because it reminds us that sainthood is not reserved for a select few extraordinary individuals. Rather, holiness is available to every person who seeks to follow Christ faithfully in the circumstances of their own life.

    I once heard a priest say, “Only saints get to Heaven.”

    At first, that statement may sound surprising. Yet it contains a profound truth.

    Heaven is the home of the saints.

    Some saints have been formally canonized and recognized by the Church. Their names are known throughout the world.

    Others lived quiet lives of faith that may never be recognized publicly. They may have been loving parents, faithful spouses, devoted workers, or humble servants whose names never appeared in history books.

    These are the uncanonized saints.

    Their holiness may have been known only to God and those closest to them.

    Yet they, too, share in the glory of Heaven.

    This should encourage all of us.

    God is not asking us to become famous.

    He is asking us to become faithful.

    The lives of the saints remind us that holiness is possible. Saint Josemaría Escrivá reminds us that holiness is practical. It can be lived out in our homes, workplaces, churches, and communities every day.

    As we ask the saints for their prayers, let us also imitate their virtues.

    May their example inspire us to pursue holiness with renewed determination.

    And may we never forget the beautiful truth that God calls every one of us to become saints.

    For that is ultimately our destination: to know God, love God, serve God in this life, and be with Him forever in Heaven.

    Suggested Closing Prayer

    “Saint Josemaría Escrivá, pray for us. Help us discover God in our daily work and ordinary duties. Inspire us to seek holiness in all things and to follow Christ faithfully each day. Ame

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  • We all Live in the Disgration of God

    In the Discretion of God

    Last night, I was speaking with my sister about a priest who had planned to retire at the age of seventy-five. He had given years of faithful service and, by all expectations, was ready to step away from ministry. Yet, because he served at the discretion of his bishop, his plans changed. Instead of retiring, he was assigned to pastor a startup church—beginning again when he thought he was finished.

    That conversation stayed with me.

    This morning, I woke up with a deeper realization: we all serve at the discretion of God. Not at our own timing, not according to our own carefully arranged plans, but according to His will. And if we are honest, that truth is both humbling and unsettling.

    Scripture reminds us of this reality in powerful ways. When Judas left the Last Supper, it is written that the devil had already entered him as he went out to betray the Lord. Even in that moment—dark, painful, and seemingly out of control—God’s greater purpose was unfolding. Nothing was outside His authority.

    This truth became even more personal this week.

    My sister had planned to retire after thirty-six years of banking. It was meant to be a joyful milestone. After decades of working alongside the same people, there were surely plans for celebration, reflection, and closure. But life had other plans.

    Her husband suffered a heart attack.

    Instead of enjoying her final days at work, she spent her next-to-last day driving to Oklahoma City and sitting in a hospital room through the night. He received a stent, and by April 2nd, they returned home to Atoka, Oklahoma. What was supposed to be a week of celebration became a week of crisis, care, and uncertainty.

    And yet, in that disruption, there was a greater truth revealed: no matter how much we plan, God is in charge.

    We map out our lives with timelines and expectations. We anticipate milestones and transitions. But in a moment, everything can shift. Not because God has lost control—but because He never relinquished it in the first place.

    Even Jesus Christ Himself lived in complete submission to the Father’s will. He did not act independently of God’s purpose. He walked a path that led through suffering—His Passion, His crucifixion, and ultimately His resurrection. From a human perspective, it may have looked like tragedy or defeat. But in God’s plan, it was redemption.

    If Jesus, the Son, lived and served according to the Father’s will, how much more must we?

    We may not always understand why our plans are interrupted. We may not see the purpose behind sudden changes or painful circumstances. But we can trust that nothing is wasted in God’s hands.

    The priest who thought he was retiring found himself beginning anew. My sister who expected celebration found herself in a hospital. And in both stories, there is a common thread: God’s authority overrides our expectations.

    We do not serve at our own discretion.

    We serve at His.

    And in that truth, there is both surrender—and peace.

    Rick Herring
    thmjmj@gmail.com