Why Aren't There More Saints?

The spiritual da and anam cara called a few nights ago. He asked, "Why are there not more saints?"

The hermit answered. The Da then said, "Yes, it takes effort, doesn't it?"

We discussed single-mindedness of purpose: omnia pro Deo. We discussed the many distractions, even those within the interior life.

This is not the first time he has asked the hermit this question. Often he follows it with : We need MORE saints! The CHURCH needs more saints! Why does not God give them to us?

The hermit, in the next few days pondered his questions all the more, and then mentioned it to the confessor. The confessor commented that we won't know who are saints until heaven. But the hermit said that the spiritual da means to stir the soul to ponder, and then to strive all the more to be consumed in and for and by God--to have that single-minded focus.

More and more, the hermit pondered the situation of saints. The da had asked if I see many people about who are striving for this purpose, this single-minded focus on God. The hermit does "see" people about, striving. The hermit does not know, of course, the extent of their striving, and it does not matter, but the hermit "sees" in a kind of sensing mode, souls in the vicinity at daily Mass--souls who effect holiness, somehow, in ways not outward, but in their presence. The hermit is aware of souls encountered in correspondence who strive to improve spiritual lives. So,yes, surely God is providing saints.

Later, the hermit spoke with the spiritual da about this. He is in a situation of consecrated religious women who have lost their charism as a group, but there are a few very holy women, striving within their circumstances, to remain true to their vows and the Church. Sadly, the bulk are angry and sad women, and the congregation has ceased to grow and is dying out.

But the da and the hermit spoke of saints. The hermit suggested that people are so distracted by sensational news daily, and of sensational movies and television, that perhaps God has provided an age not of sensational saints, but of the hidden saints. I asked, "Did the people pay attention to the sign of Jonas?" Are there many Catholics, themselves, who we encounter who do not know anything about Padre Pio, for example, or who ignored or disdained what he stood for, in his own time, which is in our own time?

So perhaps we are in the era of subtle saints, of many "undercover" saints. These are souls who God intends to sanctify, but in very quiet, hidden ways. Perhaps it is more the groundswell of saints in everyday life, striving in very hidden and small details, in their single-mindedes in God.

Maybe they are the many, and maybe they are to be the spiritual da, also--that he and I and all those many other lowly ones are to be the groundswell of saints that God is giving the world in our time.

If so, we concluded there is work to be done within our souls, with our efforts of cooperating, in fine-tuning the virtues, in seeking conversions unto the deepest conversion of our souls in union with God-is-Love.