by Fr. Robert J Carr
If you really think about it, your chances of becoming Pope at best are about 1.2  billion to one, but that is assuming that every Catholic has an equal chance at being a pope. Popes are usually drawn from the College of Cardinals which reduces your chance to zero if you are not a cardinal. What are the chances of being a pope and a saint? Well even less than that, but your chance of just being a saint? Well they are surprisingly good.

On the eve of the announcement of Pope John Paul II’s and Pope John XXIII’s canonization, Lino Rulli the New York based Catholic media personality reminds us in his latest book, Saint, and through his work for the Archdiocese of New York’s “The Catholic Channel” on SiriusXM Satellite radio that not only do you have a chance at being a saint, you have a calling to be one as well.

Lino, who uses humor to proclaim the powerful message that each and every one of us have a vocation to be a saint, has a strong devotion to, soon to be, Pope St. John Paul II. He received a rosary from the now Blessed; he had a front seat at his funeral and visited many of the places that molded the pontiff’s life. If there is one message Lino and Pope John Paul II would want each of us to receive no matter what country we come from is that not only do you have a calling to be a saint, if you believe yourself as not saint material, then you are wrong. One visit to a confessional (a place where Lino admits, happily, visiting regularly) should remind you that since your baptism you are on the road to sainthood. If you stay the course, then you have a place in Heaven.

This is one of the key messages of Lino and I am writing this to you “Mr. or Ms I am not as holy as I should be, so I don’t have a chance.” Jesus taught that He did not come for the perfect, but for those who seek to be holy while recognizing their own weaknesses. If there is one message Lino has it is if you believe holiness is for the super perfect who not only have no sins, but have perfectly coiffed hair, then you are completely wrong. However, if you believe that you have a vocation to holiness even when you recognize that you are not as holy as you wished you were, then Lino has great encouragement for you. This is the point of his message in all his venues, including in Saint. It is the most important message that Lino gives, especially to an American Catholic community that at times seems influenced strongly by the Calvinism of Jonathan Livingston’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” which was delivered originally in Connecticut.

I am sure for many Americans on the cusp between religious education and now living in the real world and who are also seeking to come to know their faith more deeply, many of Lino’s experiences would resonate well.  This includes Lino expressing his own doubts and his perseverance through them.

Interestingly, enough, his humor teaches a message God is always calling us to keep on going and never to allow ourselves to give up. (Just look at how many times the preachers on this blog say “Do not give up.”) Our weaknesses (or as they say in Brazil “fraquezas”) are realities we bring to God and seek to grow closer to Him through them.

I’ve used many of Lino’s humorous ideas, even in the confessional, especially his constant reminder that the difference between a saint and a sinner is that the saint gets up when he falls, the sinner does not.

The Canção Nova Community is always reminding our readers, listeners and viewers that call that each of us have to be saints. Whether it be through music, preaching, or books. Lino, who is not a member of the community, preaches this message to North America on behalf of the Archdiocese of New York and himself through humor, but the message is the same. You’ve been invited to join the Communion of the Saints since the day of your baptism. There is no excuse to believe that your case is hopeless. The power of the sacraments remind us that each one of us, through God’s grace have sainthood in the future. Indeed, as we often teach from Brazil and here in the United States, just stay the course and don’t give up. Lino’s humor is a great reminder that we Catholics have a calling to be happy. It also reminds us that in Christ we have the greatest of all reasons to hope, even when we are preparing for our regular (monthly recommended by John Paul II) visit to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

As you enjoy the announcement of canonization of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII, don’t be discouraged that you probably won’t be a pope yourself, but rejoice that, like them, you have a calling to be a saint and there is nothing outside of obstinate sin that can prevent that from happening; that is nothing that any confession can’t cure.  Just ask Lino Rulli, who has literally written the book on being a Saint.

Fr. Robert J Carr is the editor of this blog

Fr. Robert J Carr’s Interview with Lino Rulli will be heard on the Oct 7th Faith and Music which can be found at cnusa.com at 7:00pm EST (UTC-0500) and will be found after October at podcast.catholicismanew.org