“You have no idea what God is calling you to. But he needs you. He needs me. He needs all of us.”
– From the last homily of Father Mychal Judge (9/10/2001)

Today is All Saints Day; the day when those of the Christian faith celebrate all the saints – known and unknown. This day hasn’t ever meant much to me. For whatever reason, I have never really been interested in saints or their stories. That is, until recently.

I have been studying the life (and death) of Father Mychal Judge for the last ten months and have come to think of him as my personal saint to follow. Through a course I took in January, I was re-introduced to him (I had heard about him right after he was killed and then promptly erased him from my mind – a lot that happened on September 11, 2001 was just too painful to think about for any length of time.) But in this course, I had to “pick” a saint to study and his image leapt from the pages of the book we were given from which to choose our saint. In studying his life, I have become transformed in several areas of my life that once I met with much resistance.

One specific example I will give, is how I respond today to homeless people. Because of Father Mychal Judge, I look differently at them. I no longer pity them or judge them. Today, I stop and say hello to them and ask their name. I give them a few bucks and/or a prayer card, and ask to pray for them. I recognize me in the homeless person; and I recognize the homeless person in me. Today, I look them in the eye and do my best to let them know that I see their humanity, not just some person begging on the corner. Today, I pray to be able to see God in the homeless person, and to hold sacred any moments when I speak with them.

I share this not to puff out my own chest for this change in attitude. I share it instead to illustrate the strength of love that a life well and thoughtfully lived can transmit to others. Everything that I have read about Father Mychal Judge basically imparts the same message: The lives of those who he touched were never again the same – in a very good way.

So, I end this post by simply asking you one question: Who is your personal saint to follow?

If you don’t have one, here are a few books that might be helpful in finding one:

Christ in the Margins, by Robert Lentz & Edwina Gately
A Passion for Life, by Joan Chittister & Robert Lentz
Love Poems from God, Translated by Daniel Ladinsky