What Is a Saint?
November 1, 2017
Bernadette Soubirous
A SAINT, one might say, is a man or woman who was willing in life to suffer intensely for the love of God and who retained his faith, confidence, hope, cheerfulness and spirit of charity through all his sufferings.
Today, the Feast of All Saints, is a good day to honor saintly heroism. To that end, here is a brief list of some of the trials of one saint, St. Bernadette of Lourdes (1844-1879), who in her short lifetime endured the following:
1. Humiliating and sometimes vicious personal attacks at the age of 14 from her parents, teachers, neighbors, the local clergy and police (who threatened her with arrest) when she claimed she had seen visions of a beautiful lady.
2. The burden of celebrity when later many believed her visions were real. This attention lasted for the rest of her life. It was tedious and unwanted by her but she handled it with humility and patience.
3. Persecution from a superior at a convent who falsely believed she was full of herself and seeking attention.
4. The death of her parents.
5. Severe physical suffering before her death at 35 from tuberculosis.
Suffering, for a saint, is a grace.
God sends great hardship to those he loves most.
