The call to become SAINTS in our times

It seems that these days, all over the world, the favorite topic among family, relatives and friends, not to mention bishops, priests, nuns, seminarians, catechists, is the rise to sainthood of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII. More so in the eternal city of Rome where the liturgical celebration will be held on Sunday, April 27, which is also Divine Mercy Sunday. 

We, in the Pauline Family, cannot help but remember with joy and gratitude to God the event 11 years ago on this same day, April 27, 2003, when our beloved Founder Fr. James Alberione was beatified by Pope John Paul II himself after the miraculous cure of Maria Librada Rodriguez, a member of the Institute of Our Lady of the Annunciation (IOLA). 

Talking about sainthood, what Our Father had in mind for us, when He originally created us, was to make us in His image, so that we could attain fully - not partially - to His likeness. In this universal prayer, we ask Our Father to give us, not solely what we need in our daily lives, but also for all those graces needed in order for us to become what He wants us to be: SAINTS.

Celebrating the sainthood of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII is an opportunity to celebrate that we also have the call to become SAINTS in our times. Therefore it is a time to be thankful for our special connection with them and with all the saints that came before us. 

We ask God through the intercession of our saints to accompany us in our daily journey towards sainthood!