Saint MacGyver, pray for us.
Cultivate communion with the saints.
Maxim #17
Recently I celebrated the baptism of a child named MacGyver. That’s right, MacGyver. There was no duct tape involved in the ceremony. This particular baptism reminded me clearly of the call to holiness we are all expected to take part in. Strange name aside, MacGyver through his baptism is now called to live a life of holiness that leads to sainthood.
Perhaps the most famous person to become a saint with a non-traditional Christian name is St. Francis of Assisi. His father was so against the Church that he decided to name his son after the country of France. The rest of the story is well known and Francis is now one of the most common Christian names to be found.
Fr. Thomas Hopko’s 17th maxim for Christian living is to cultivate communion with the saints. The saints are the best guide to following Christ that we have as Christians. Each of them share common qualities such as a devotion to prayer and good works, but each also is his or her own person. The key to following in the footsteps of the saints is not to try to repeat the life of any one of them, but to find ways to incorporate their devotion to God and to his people in the unique way God has planned for us.
One simple way as Catholics we can cultivate communion with the saints is to participate fully in the Eucharist. Since the saints regularly gather around the Eucharistic table in order to be close to Christ, if we join them there we will certainly strengthen our communion with them. Another way to cultivate that communion is to spend time in prayer with our patron saint. Next week I will be writing an icon of St. George, my confirmation saint. I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say to me.
What ways have you found helpful in deepening your communion with the holy men and women who have gone before us?
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