“The greatest figures of prophecy and sanctity step forth out of the darkest night. But for the most part, the formative stream of the mystical life remains invisible. Certainly the most decisive turning points in world history are substantially co-determined by souls whom no history book ever mentions. And we will only find out about those souls to whom we owe the decisive turning points in our personal lives on the day when all that is hidden is revealed.”
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
In looking for new saints, I am amazed to find so few Benedictines or monastics of any order up for canonization- a lot of Franciscans though. That is because other orders go out to missionarize or be with the people whereas monks and nuns stay home in their monasteries and pray, so are less known to outsiders for their holiness. We forget that saints walked with ordinary people who were clueless as to their holiness. I sometimes wonder how many people I encounter day by day are among the ranks of those we call saints?
Pause for thought in our new year.
Pause for thought in our new year.