Have you ever realized that Saints are made in groups?
It was early spring, and Sister James Karol and I were walking along the road during our hour of recreation. Both of us were novices at the time, discerning a religious vocation at a Dominican convent in Michigan. Sister was older than me, and I was often struck by her practical wisdom. This occasion was no different, as she continued on to list the many groups of Saints within the Church:
- Saint Basil and Saint Gregory
- Saint John of the Cross and Saint Teresa of Avila
- Saint Martin de Porres and Saint Rose of Lima
- Saint Catherine of Siena and Blessed Raymond
- The entire family of Saint Therese Martin
- Pope Saint John Paul II and his parents
All of these men and women became Saints, not on their own, but in a group. Saints are made in groups.
Turning to me, the bright sun gleaming off her white veil, Sister James Karol’s next words stay with me always:
That is why you need to be a Saint, Sister. So I can be a Saint. That is why I need to be a Saint, so you can be a Saint.
The Feast of the Visitation, which is also the inspiration behind the mission of Blessed is She, also revolves around this simple truth: Saints are made in groups.
Sainthood: Spiritual and Practical
The Feast of the Visitation does not celebrate an extraordinary event. No voice came from Heaven. No fire fell from the sky. No one was raised from the dead. Yet it teaches us the importance of fostering community and supporting one another both practically and spiritually.
Saints are, after all, hylomorphic beings made up of body and soul. Building Saints requires not just spiritual support, but practical, bodily support as well. Friendship is more than a meeting of minds. It is cooking a meal together, getting together for coffee, and simply being together.
Call Me Blessed
The Blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth to help her during her pregnancy and to share the news of her own miraculous pregnancy. Practically, she most likely assisted with cooking, cleaning, and laundry. These hidden services Mary offered to Elizabeth are an example of how we are to serve one another, not just those close to us in age, but women who are older and wiser, yet in need of youthful strength and energy.
Spiritually, Mary shared in her cousin’s joy. Elizabeth, whose husband had been mute for six months, must have longed for a friend with whom to discuss and rejoice in such miraculous events. Not only that, but Mary also brought Elizabeth salvific hope in the form of the unborn Jesus. Mary acted as a monstrance for the indwelling Jesus. Her visit to Elizabeth was the first Eucharistic procession, and Elizabeth’s cry of delight was the first Adoration.
Blessed are You
Practically, Elizabeth probably advised Mary on the intricacies of running a household and fostering a relationship with a spouse. Some speculate that the seamless garment worn by Jesus at His Passion (seamless in the same manner as the robes of a high priest) was made by the Blessed Mother. Where would Mary have learned how to make such a garment? Perhaps during her youth at the temple, or perhaps during these months with Elizabeth, the wife of a levitical priest who would have known how to craft such a garment.
In this, Elizabeth and Mary model the importance of learning from one another, even the little practical things that enrich our lives and the lives of our families. Do not underestimate the importance of sharing a recipe or getting advice from an older woman on life and marriage. Saints are not born in isolation; formation comes from those around us.
Spiritually, Elizabeth received Mary with joy and wonder. Elizabeth’s reaction to the news of the coming birth of the Messiah teaches us how to rejoice with others:
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb . . . And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord” (Luke 1:42-45).
Her hospitality and open arms were the perfect setting for the Magnificat. Mary, whose heart had been so full of joy, found understanding and an open ear in Elizabeth, who was the first to share the knowledge of the coming of the Messiah. She, in deep humility, celebrated the gift of God that Mary had been given, and recognized her cousin’s act of faith—she who believed.
Be a Saint
It can be easy to discount our relationships with other women as unimportant to our spiritual growth. In reality, they are critical to becoming a Saint. The relationship between Elizabeth and Mary was not only for them, but for all of us who read about their visit in the Gospels to emulate in our own lives.
Blessed is She is not just a blog platform or an email blast. It is a community of women striving for holiness across the country and the world. In this community we rejoice with those who rejoice, we weep with those who weep (see Romans 12:15), and we grow in holiness together, building a chain that will help bring us all to Heaven.
So, my dear sisters in Christ, do not neglect your coffee dates and your Bible studies. Join a Blessed is She small group or start your own. You are not alone in your quest for holiness. Become a Saint, so that we can be Saints with you.
Rosie Hall is a freelance writer and lover of well-steeped tea. She spent three years after high school discerning a vocation. Since leaving, she has tried a bit of everything: attending Ave Maria University, traveling, bartending, journalism, producing podcasts, knitting; always seeking to follow the Lamb wherever He goes! Rosie's next adventure takes her across the pond to study literature at Oxford University.
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