Building Up the Church

If you look at the life of any canonized saint, you will find a willingness to sacrifice oneself for the good of others. This willingness is an everyday attitude that expresses itself in ongoing works of charity and mercy. As the saints show us, "going the extra mile" for others is the stuff of heroic holiness. True saints do not just give of themselves occasionally; they keep giving despite boredom, fatigue, and disappointment.

January 5 is the feast day of Saint John Neumann, the first American bishop to be named a saint. His life definitely involved "going the extra mile." He made great strides in building up the Church in America. Neumann did everything he could to speak for the voiceless, to defend the defenseless, and to assist the most vulnerable. We too are called to such holiness.

Saints are people who respond to the needs of their time. John Neumann set about building the infrastructure of the Church in his part of the United States, and accomplished remarkable success because of his dedication and ability to inspire others. Our Church faces new challenges today that must be met with equal dedication and heroic devotion.

Family Activity

Social action is a dimension of following Christ and growing in holiness. Think of ways your family can respond to the Church’s "option for the poor." Find pictures and news headlines that inspire family members to help the poor. Create a collage with the clippings, adding a message such as: "When we help the least of these, we help Jesus." Display the collage in a place to motivate your family to action.

See the Liturgical Calendar on this site for additional information.
See also Catechist—Lent or Teacher—Lent for Liturg