At the community Mass this morning I again felt an overpowering desire to become a saint. It came suddenly, filling my soul with consolation. Surely God has an object in inspiring me so often with this desire, and has great graces for me if I will only cooperate with Him.
Reflecting on this inspiration afterwards, I saw more clearly that the chief thing God wants from me at present is an extraordinary and exquisite perfection in every little thing I do, even the odd Hail Marys of the day; that each day there must be some improvement in the fervour, the purity of intention, the exactness with which I do things, that in this will chiefly lie my sanctification as it sanctified St. John Berchmans. I see here a vast field for work and an endless service of mortification. To keep faithfully to this resolve will require heroism, so that day after day I may not flag in the fervour of my service of the good God.
(Image: St John Berchmans)
Father Willie has spoken of “exactness” and “fervor” many times in these posts. I’ve found this both helpful and daunting in trying to make something of it. The application typically leaves much to be desired. But at the end of the day, there’s usually a knowing that any falling short calls for a better effort next time – a good lesson in humility, I suppose.