Deacon Tom Fox

My Mom’s a Saint
by Deacon Tom Fox
www.deacontomonline.com

Hi moms – and happy October…. Already! Who in the world is speeding up the clocks? Seems like days ago we were talking about summer and reading books… One mom said that heaven to her is when she can sit uninterrupted and read a book. How about you? Feel the same? Wouldn’t you know I’m going to mention a book in this column!

Okay – well I want to pick a topic for October about each of us, and our call to sainthood. I’ll start with a question: if I had a chance to sit in a room with each of your children (old enough to answer such questions)… and if I could ask them if they thought their mom is a saint. How many of them would say, “Yep, my mom’s a saint.” And you, moms -- your reply might be: “Okay Deacon Tom -- get real.”

Well – I am trying to be real about the topic. I once preached at all the weekday Masses in November when we honor saints. One of my homilies was about my wife and if the parishioners would ever ask her if she has lived with a saint. Her answer: “Are you kidding me? No – I never have lived with a saint.”

But there are the times… the periods after I’ve been to Confession when I’m ‘flush’ with the grace of God… and I haven’t (yet) been impatient… I haven’t over-reacted... I haven’t had a bad thought.

These times may just be hours (after I’ve been to the Sacrament of Reconciliation). In my sermons that month, I preached that sometimes it’s been as much as days… maybe even a week before I’ve lapsed. And so the true answer is that my wife – my dear sweet wife Dee has lived with a saint… but only for periods of time… just for a while.

Sainthood is, technically, when someone makes it to Heaven. But the intent of this month’s column is to ask: are there periods of time when we live in the fullness of God’s love and mercy? And – do we think about it? Do we try to enter that ‘state’ and do we try to hold on to it? To prolong it? I do. And I would give you an October task to consider this challenge. Perhaps starting with a promise to try to get to Confession – most especially if it’s been ‘too long.’

If you have the time – I would invite you to visit my website where I have often talked about saints and holiness. In fact – my Communion Service Reflection for Monday, October 1st, 2007 is about one of the dear saints… well in fact, she’s my girlfriend. Well you’ll just have to read about it on my site… But here’s a little bit of information about the ‘Little Flower.’

She was a young ordinary woman who turned hurt and petulance and pouting and impatience into love… gosh do some of us need St. Therese… well, okay, maybe I’m the only one that needs Therese of Lisieux. Those of us who have read her autobiography know the book entitled: Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux.

Some have read it over again -- plumbing it for its wisdom and hearing her voice as she speaks to God: “We live in the age of inventions dear Jesus. And the wealthy no longer have to take the trouble to climb the stairs; they take an elevator. That is what I must find, an elevator to take me straight up to you, Oh Jesus… because I am too little to climb the steep stairway of perfection.” (St. Therese of Lisieux in her book Story of a Soul). She also writes about gardens and flowers and love and nature – things that I feel many of you moms would like to teach in gentleness to your offspring.

Yes – there is room for each of us to strive a little more… a little harder to become saint-like… And it isn’t old fashioned… it isn’t conservative or some other word that tries to pooh pooh the saints. We have a wonderful legacy in the saints. Would that our hearts would soften and flame again in the love of those who have made it to Eternity – and who are, like Therese of Lisieux. She promised to spend her Heavenly ‘time’ doing good among us, on earth. She’s quite willing to help you if you ask her. Mention my name.

Please don’t tell my wife I have a girlfriend, okay?

Tom Fox is an ordained Deacon serving in the Archdiocese of Denver. He is currently assigned to a small mountain community outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. Tom receives many requests for copies of his homilies -- and many recent homilies and experiential reflections are found on his website: www.deacontomonline.com. Tom would love to hear from you and will try to answer any questions or sharing that you send in.

 

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