"Never has the presence of saints among us been more necessary than now, under the wave of materialism which is submerging us. Pius X urged the parish clergy to sanctity, giving them as patron the blessed Vianney. . . . Have you met many imitators of the Cure of Ars?"Sanctity is not required in the priesthood alone. Should it not be found in the highest degree in religious? If every Christian, in fact, ought to tend towards perfection without having promised expressly to do it . . . Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. . . how much more religious souls who formally and publicly make profession of striving for sanctity?
And then, if we are to be and must be the salt of the earth, what responsibility would we have should we lose our savor? "What would become of the world," said Our Lord to St. Theresa of Avila, "if there were no more religious?"
Without doubt He spoke of live religious who carry out their engagement in its entirety. But through pity for our misery, He wished to recognize that "Even after having lost their primitive fervor, Religious Orders render to society great services." But a leaven has value only in the measure that it is a good leaven; if it loses its power to raise, throw it out; it does not fulfill its purpose.
"O my God, grant that I may be stimulated incessantly by the realization of my role as a leaven for the world. I have many reasons for being courageous; let this one which dominates all the others become more and more a part of me. This is not pride; it is truth, the world needs my sanctity."
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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
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