By Katie Patrick
As I drove my daughters home from school the other day, they asked me if I knew the saint who wanted to be small. Giving it some thought and asking for a few hints, I responded: St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Saoirse then asked, “Do you know why she wanted to be small? Because she loved Jesus so much.”
Now I have to admit that my initial reaction was relief; thank goodness, my kids are actually listening and learning about their Catholic faith! But over the next few weeks, especially leading up to All Saints Day, I pondered the many gifts that we have all been given through the lives of the saints, and how they have been a witness at different moments in my life.
Whether from a young age or after converting later in life, we receive examples of faith, love, compassion, perseverance, humility and sacrifice through the lives of the saints. My Confirmation saint, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, was raised in a culture that forbade Christianity, but she loved Jesus so much that she left her home and family, whom she loved, because she loved God more. Like many of the saints, she was known for her daily Mass attendance and love for the Eucharist, often walking on foot, through rain or snow, before sunrise.
St. Thérèse’s “little way” reminds us that we can all do small things with great love. At Catholic Social Services (CSS), we witness the generosity of donors each day. They give faithfully, and many have sacrificed throughout their lives to help the poor.
Often, we receive checks in the mail accompanied by handwritten letters. A recent check for $10 included a shoebox full of holy cards for us to give to those in need. Some of the holy cards appeared more recent, but others had clearly been carried for many years, placed tightly in the bindings of prayer books. This fervent devotion to Our Lady, the Holy Family, and the saints reminds me of the living faith of our donors, and a $10 check wrapped around a box of treasured cards is the little way in action.
Another letter that we received earlier this year was enclosed in a card with the following message: “Dear Mrs. Patrick: We have enclosed our annual check for the ministry you do in our community. We are on a retirement income now but we promised to each other and to our Lord we would continue to give as long as we are able because we know what a blessing your work is for the people of our community. We hope our small gift will be multiplied by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Their quiet faithfulness is the same answer Saoirse gave in the car: they give because they love so much. My daughters have been devouring every saint book in our home, watching shows on FORMED, and listening to podcasts. All the available resources can be overwhelming at times; still, being surrounded by so much good is a tremendous blessing. It reminds us as adults to ask ourselves: How many of us desire smallness like St. Thérèse? How many of us would walk through rain and snow before sunrise, as St. Kateri did, to receive Jesus in the Eucharist?
