Be holy as I am holy
Visit of Relic of St John Bosco to Glenorchy
Saints have always played an important role in the life of Catholics. We place our churches, schools, hospitals under the patronage of a saint.
This is St John’s Parish, Glenorchy, and it has been placed under the patronage of St John the Baptist. Thus, in this parish community, St John the Baptist has a special place.
It has been a Catholic custom for a child to take on the name of a saint at Baptism and Confirmation. This saint becomes their special patron.
Our patron saint is one to whom we can turn and ask for their intercession. We can learn about our particular saint and, if the opportunity arises, we can visit their tomb.
As Catholics we can develop a special relationship with our own patron saint.
As we seek to deepen our Catholic life learning about the saints inspires us, revealing ways in which we can become more faithful members of the Church and grow in virtue and holiness.
Their virtues encourage us; their works inspire us; their writings nourish our faith. In a word, the lives of saints show us how we can be true disciples of Jesus and faithful members of the Church.
It is important to recall that we are all called to be saints – St Peter quoting the Book of Leviticus (21:8) wrote, “Be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One wo has called you, and Scripture says, ‘be holy for I am holy’”. (I Pet 1:15-16)
In the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council spoke of the ‘universal call to holiness’, saying, “The Lord Jesus, the divine Teacher and Model of all perfection, preached holiness of life to each and every one of His disciples of every condition”. (LG 40)
Thus, saints remind us of our calling and point us towards our destiny. They are a model and inspiration for us. They are our companions in the spiritual journey.
They are our friends who intercede for us. One day we hope to join their great multitude before the throne of God.
In the early Church it was the martyrs who were held up as exemplary Christians because they had laid down their lives for Christ.
The word martyr comes from the Greek word, martyerion, which means a witness. Those who were prepared to die for the faith were inspirational witnesses of the fidelity to Christ.
Every saint is an inspirational witness to us of what it means to be a Christian. In the saints we learn how to be a true Christian.
From the veneration of martyrs, the Church extended its veneration of those who defended or suffered for the faith. These were known as Confessors.
The categories of saints gradually extended to include that who were exemplary in a virtuous way of life (we think of the early monks in the desert), those who excelled in teaching the faith (whom we call Doctors of the Church), those with great apostolic zeal (like missionaries, courageous bishops and apostolic priests), those who with extraordinary charity and care for the needy (like those who founded religious orders). Saints, therefore, are our spiritual mentors.
The Church’s history now offers us a rich gallery of saints. Some are well known and popular. The Church has recognised over 10,000 saints, most of whom have been formally canonised.
In the Apostles Creed we profess our faith in the Communion of Saints – that we are in real relationship with all the saints. There is a deep spiritual bond between us here on earth and the saints in heaven.
Today we have the opportunity of focussing on one saint who founded the Salesian Order, St John Bosco. We join with the Salesian Order in celebrating the centenary of the arrival of the first Salesians in Australia, arriving in Freemantle, WA, in March 1923.
Today before us we have wax replica of the saint, in which is a relic of Dom Bosco. The statue enables us to visualise the saint, while the relic gives us something more: we brought into close proximity with the saint.
A relic is part of the physical remains of the saint or something touched by the saint. At the human level, we know that we can hold dear something – a piece of clothing or some personal item – that reminds us of a loved one who is now deceased. In this object we are reminded of them and we sense a closeness to them.
So it is with relics. Beholding a relic, praying before a relic, brings us into a more immediate and personal relationship with the saint.
Relics have always played an important role in Catholic spirituality. In a relic we not only recall the saint, but the saint is somehow immediately present to us.
And relics can occasion miracles and many people have attested to a miracle occurring as a result of praying with a relic. This adds to the sacredness of the relic and our desire venerate them, and pray before them.
Today we have an opportunity to pray before the relic of St John Bosco. I would encourage you to consider some special need that you have and entrust it to St John Bosco who is with us in this special way.
Take this special spiritual opportunity to engage your Catholic life with that of the wonderful saint, Dom Bosco.
Archbishop Julian Porteous
Sunday, 10 September 2023