Holiness in Action

written by Carmel G. Cauchi, SDC Member   Me too, even though I’m a sinner! A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying. On the first of November, we celebrate All Saints' Day, honoring all saints; not only those with depicted in halos and placed on altars for veneration. Beyond these, there are countless other saints who are unnamed, yet spent their lives striving to live by God’s law. They didn’t perform miracles or face martyrdom, but they did their best to live righteously; and when they stumbled, they rose and continued with their journey. Saints weren’t born saints; many struggled and faltered. But they kept trying, and eventually, they succeeded. Holiness isn’t reserved for a select few; it’s a calling for everyone. We are all invited to holiness. The Lord called everyone to follow him. Once, Jesus said to all: “If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Lk 9:23). This path of following Christ is the journey to holiness. So, the Lord is also calling me to holiness, even though I am a sinner! Many sinners have become saints because the Lord desires not the death of the wicked, but their conversion and life (Ezek 18:23). To live doesn’t simply mean to exist in this world, for our worldly lives will end. To truly live is to attain eternal life; to become saints. Lord, I know I have a long journey ahead to become who You desire me to be; be patient with me and lead me onward, even when my steps are slow.

St George Preca had great admiration for the saints. For him, the saints were friends of God and friends of ours as well. Like the stars that guide the sailors, the saints show us the way in the spiritual life. In this book, Preca, with an easy and profound style, invites us to listen to some of the best-known saints of the Catholic Church. He presents us with thirty-one saints who share with us beautiful teachings about the spiritual life. He does not quote directly from the books or preachings of these saints, but with simple words he tries to summarise the virtues and attitudes that stood out most in their lives. Reading this book, followed by a moment of reflection or meditation, can be of great spiritual benefit to all of us and a great help to follow in the footsteps of our friends, the saints.   Example: Preacher: Saint Cajetan of Thiene Let's imagine having this saint in front of us, and that we are listening to him preach, in his own voice, on a topic that stood out a lot to him during his life.  Trust in God Dear friends, listen and understand. Who is the one who governs all the creation? Is it not the one who keeps everything in existence? What is so evident in the sky, on earth, and in the sea, more than the providence and care of God towards his creatures? From where does so much food come from for so many human beings? From where does the clothing for so many bodies come from? By observing the birds in the skies and the lilies of the fields, human beings understand that they should not worry excessively about their livelihood, since they are much more precious for God than other creatures. We must trust in God, the Father of all. A wise man, reflecting on the uncertainties of life, wealth, honour, and glory, does not worry and does not strive for things that are in a continuous process of change. Can a faithful person ever doubt that God knows what his creatures need and that He truly loves them as the works of his hands? May every human being rest in the providence of God!   Available from Librerija Preca.

Preca Publications is publishing Il-Paci tal-Qalb (Peace of Heart), authored by SDC Member Stephen Zammit. In this work, Zammit invites readers on an inner journey to uncover the essential role of inner peace in every person’s life. The book offers fifty reflections drawn from the wisdom of saints and spiritual teachers who have dedicated themselves to attaining this profound treasure. Among these are reflections inspired by the spirituality of St. George Preca. This book, in Maltese, serves as a valuable resource for adults seeking the grace of inner peace. Available from Preca Library.

Sadly, in our time, it has become increasingly common to hear people speak against the Christian faith. It’s not unusual to encounter someone criticising it on the mass or social media. However, when you take the time to listen to what they have to say about faith in God, you’ll find they often discuss a variety of ideas but seldom reflect deeply on what God has truly revealed Himself to be. St George Preca, saw this reality growing around him even in his time. He worked tirelessly to counter it, not only by teaching but also by embodying what he believed. God does not limit this responsibility to a selected few, such as St George, priests, religious people, or the SDC Members. From the day of Baptism, every Christian is called to share with those he encounters who God truly is. Today, as many people are quick to spread misconceptions about God, it is even more vital for us to reveal the true nature of God in any way we can. Some may do so through words, others through writing, but above all, everyone can do so by example; by living the faith and virtues that he believes in.

by Carmel G. Cauchi, SDC Member   Give God all you have and he will give you all you need. I give everything to the Lord. What does this mean? This means: that I don't let anything separate me from God's love; that I do my utmost to observe his law; that I am prepared to make any sacrifice he asks of me; that I hold him as the highest and best value in my life. If I am so generous with the Lord, he will be much more generous than I am and will provide me with everything I need. St George Preca used to teach that what is good and beautiful in the creature is ultimately good and beautiful in the Creator. This is also what our Lord Jesus himself teaches us: "Seek first the kingdom and justice of God, and all this (that you need) will be given to you as well" (Mt 6:33). He also told us that if God takes care of the birds and the lilies, how much more does he take care of us, humans, who are much more precious than them (Mt 6:25-34). In his letter, St Peter wrote: "Throw all your cares onto him (God) because he takes care of you" (1 Pet 5:7). The Bible also says, "The Lord will go before you; he will be with you; he will not leave you nor forsake you; do not be afraid and do not give up" (Dt 31:8). So, I will give everything to God, and I will lack nothing. To God, I give everything, all that he decided to give me, and I am certain that in my every need he will always provide for me.

Prayer is at the heart of every faith. Just as you cannot love your wife or husband without spending time with them, you cannot follow God without approaching him daily in prayer. This can be said to be seen in every other religious tradition. For example, a practicing Jew pauses to pray three times a day, while Muslims pray five times. However, this is something that in our faith we seem to have neglected, at least in Western countries, and around us we are seeing the fruits of this neglect because faith is always losing its prominence in our lives. We are even sacrificing the Sunday mass which for many was the last regular appointment with the life of faith. What can we do in the face of all this? Let the words of Christ inspire us, "Let your light shine." Let us be people of prayer. Let us make Sunday Mass a truly spiritual prayer experience. It doesn't matter how many people come up to the altar to do something! Because not only those who read or bring up the offerings are taking part in this celebration. Everyone who is in the church during mass is taking part in this prayer. But we must make it a moment of prayer. Let us find time, everyday, to pray and, in our intentions, we ask God to increase faith in the people close to us. Let's not forget that Christ himself told us that "everyone who asks, receives".