We will return to our discussion on the last days of the life of Fr Willie in a few days time when we get closer to the anniversary of his death later next week.

For now, however, we shall have one of Fr Willie’s thoughts.

‘What is it to thee? Follow thou Me’ (John 21: 22). This thought came to me: I am not to take the lives of others in the house as the standard of my own, what may be lawful for them is not for me; their life is most pleasing to God, such a life for me would not be so; God wants something higher, nobler, more generous from me, and for this will offer me special graces.

COMMENT: Here Fr Willie touches on an important truth, and an interesting aspect of his life and spirituality.

How tempting it is for us to allow the social norms we perceive around us to determine our behaviour. So often we can rationalise away our faults or our mediocrity with the thought that “everybody is doing it”. But we must not take “everybody” as the standard of our behaviour. Our standard must be Christ, and he has a definite plan for each of us. We know that He desires our perfection and holiness. The details of what this looks like in practice may be different things for different people. For Fr Willie it meant an austere and mortified life. The legitimate luxuries that were permitted to others were not God’s will for him. And, perhaps it is a consolation to realise that Fr Willie’s austerities are not for everyone else, although at the very least the spirit of self-denial will be relevant for all of us, even if it is lived out in different ways in each person’s individual life. After all, any relationship with a person incapable of self-denial would be an appalling strain.

Knowing the temptation that we have to base our standards on the behaviour of others, we must remember that we, ourselves, can become role models on whom others may base their own behaviour and attitudes. We should live in such a way to encourage and edify those we live with. As St Francis said, we should preach always, and when necessary, use words. If we want others to be generous, patient and tolerant of us, perhaps we also need to show that to them…