Pondering The Face of Holiness

Ever since I can remember I have been fascinated with the lives of the saints, mystics in particular.  I remember wanting so badly to have mystical gifts - of bi-location, seeing Mary and Jesus face to face, of ecstatic prayer, of reading souls and then dying in the odor of sanctity, later to be found incorrupt.  I was perfectly mature and just a little bit ambitious/covetous. Notice that I didn't want the stigmata and the holy wounds.  I only wanted the cool, non-painful gifts. Even now as an adult I would jest with God to give me the gift of ecstasy while doing laundry LOL.  Or make me levitate as I lose myself in the holiest of all holy chores - scrubbing the toilet. But please no sufferings!

All kidding aside I have been pondering holiness a lot lately.  What is the face of holiness for a person like myself? Wife, mother, educator, home maker, friend, sister, aunt, etc..How is God calling me to be more united to Himself and His will and most importantly, how am I responding? I struggle a bit with the responding part, that is another work of conversion in itself.

I have been reading saints lately- Venerable Father Solanus Casey being my latest read. I continue to be fascinated by the common saintly response - that of humble obedience even amidst self-doubt.  Ven. Father Solanus Casey, for example, even unto the last minute of his saying "yes" as he was clothed in the Capuchin habit, was doubtful of his consent. Despite his doubt about himself he did not doubt God. He was always grateful for everything and he encouraged everyone who came to him to do the same.  He told them to thank God ahead of time.  I need to remember that!  Even those whose (sad) future he had foreseen, he encouraged them to trust that God knew what He was doing. He told the dying and/or their families to let go and submit themselves to God's will.

Ven. Father Solanus Casey

This holiness thing is a serious business.  But in it's seriousness those who have attained it seemed to have also attained true joy and peace.  I sometimes lament how saints get portrayed as joyless creatures that have no need to laugh or be funny as they are permanently stuck in their holy card poses. With the exception of those who perpetually suffered bodily sufferings, I am pretty sure most saints are perfectly mischievous and could appreciate a good laugh.

Since I'm neither mystic nor saint and know full well the state of my soul, I will be a life-long seeker and ponderer of holiness.  If it takes non-ecstatic infinite cycles of laundry or a non-levitating scrubbing of toilets, then so be it ;-)

Who is your favorite (mystic) saint?