So the other day, I was having a conversation with a friend about his vocation. As I was sharing with him my discernment process, prayers, and reflections, I shared with him my heart’s desire. I want to be a married saint.

I know that seems pretty bold to say, but it was Blessed Mother Theresa who is quoted, “Sainthood (holiness) is not the luxury of a few, it is everyone’s duty: yours and mine.” I think the majority of us look at sainthood as unattainable, that it is reserved for “those other holy people”, yet there is a universal call to holiness . . . for all of us! Not just for people in the “olden days” or for priests, religious sisters or brothers.

I look to all the saints as examples of holiness, but it’s the ones who were married that bring a special curiousness to my heart. We are in need of being inspired to live out our vocations, whatever they may be. I think many of our generation look at marriage and think, “wait, what . . . holy?”

I know I was always amazed when I walked into a friend’s house and found out that their parents were still married and actually loved each other. Now, my eyes are more open because I long to see it, I long to see married couples in love – holy love – good love. It is out there, I’ve seen it . . . couples longing and striving to be Christ to one another, and it is beautiful!

We hear the word “soul mate” quite often and I’m not knocking it, but as I was talking to my friend, I found myself saying, “I’m praying for my “saint mate” and that made sense to my heart. You know, saint mate . . . the one who will walk with you and hold your hand to heaven! Saint mate . . . the one who desires to pray with you to the Heart of Christ. Saint mate . . . the one who chooses to be “set apart” in virtue and calls you on to do the same.

I think we long so much to give back to God in gratitude for all that He has given and done for us, but we must remember, He will not be outdone in generosity. So clearly did my heart hear Him say, “Your vocation is not your gift to me, it is my gift to you!” Let us continue to be open to His gifts and His calling for our lives.

I reflect back to Adam in Genesis 2:20, “The man gave names to all the tame animals, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be a helper suited to the man.” We can, and should do all that God asks/calls us to do and if we are called to live out the beautiful Sacrament of Marriage, be assured that he will gift us with a helper suited for our bodies and our souls.

I was watching a video from the Imagine Sisters Movement and Sister Joseph Andrew of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist says, “How does it (vocation) come to you? It comes to you inside your heart. You just really eventually say, ‘I want it; is that strange? But I want it and my life would not be complete if this isn’t what I did with my life.’”

Now go live the life of holiness you were meant to live!

Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi, pray for us.

Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin, pray for us.