Welcome, Catholic Pilgrims. Welcome to our final reading from “Introduction to the Devout Life.” We still will have the concluding episode, but today, we will finish the book.
The other day, I was thinking about how when I was younger, I thought holiness was lame and boring. I, also, didn’t think it was for people like me. It was for people like Mother Teresa or St. Paul. Remember, I didn’t grow up with Saints being talked about nor was sainthood something to strive for. Growing up for me, you believed in Jesus and that was enough, and when you died, you became an angel.
Now, though, I understand what the purpose of life is—it is to be a saint. This isn’t bragging, this is recognizing that we were made for greatness and to use our gifts, in our unique way, to bring God’s light and love into the world. What an amazing adventure.
So, let’s hear St. Francis’ final thoughts as we open to Chapter Eighteen of the Fifth Part.