March 2025: Editorial

Growing into Saints

I was recently asked to read a selection of essays written in honour of St Oliver Plunkett and published as part of the celebrations this year marking the 400th anniversary of his birth. His biographers seem to agree that St Oliver was an ordinary man with flaws like the rest of us but that by the time of his imprisonment and death he had grown into sainthood. He hadn’t always been an angel before becoming a saint. As we begin Lent this year it’s worth bearing his example and his spiritual growth in mind. Another great saint Frances de Sales, wrote that God like the parent of a small child, takes pleasure in seeing us take our little steps. Frances advised ‘Have patience with all things but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them – every day begin the task anew.’

     Another article this month tells the story of the 12, a group of men and women who have grown together in their journey as followers of Christ. The apostles Jesus called were those he wanted. They didn’t include any particularly religious people of his time. They were fishermen, a tax collector, an extremist Zealot, a doubting Thomas and a Judas. Yet these were the ones we’re told that he wanted as companions; they may not have had great religious devotion, or mystical experiences or had intellectual power or great wisdom but ultimately the Lord saw potential in these people. He knew that with their cooperation he could mould them into becoming instruments of his healing and bringers of his teaching. They would grow into their role.

     Jesus did not ask Peter whether he was learned or eloquent in order to give him the commission, ‘Feed my sheep.’ He only asked, ‘Do you love me?’ And that’s what God asks of us above all this Lent – to love him and in that way we may grow into the saints he calls us to be.

Shortly before going to print the sad news of the death was announced of Fr John Byrne OSA, the author of ‘Looking at life through the Lens of the Gospel’. His generosity towards and enthusiasm for Intercom and our subscribers will always be remembered. A fuller obituary will follow in the next issue.

     Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Paul Clayton-Lea

Editor