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By Father Don Farnan on October 17, 2026 |
| As we approach the annual feast days of all saints and all souls, we recognize reminders of our journey from earth to heaven, from here to eternity. Just as particular saints inspire us personally, so have certain saints made an impact upon Catholics in Kansas City. Among them are Teresa of Avila and Ignatius of Loyola. They beckon us to seek God in all things and to follow the path of perfection. |
| The path is a little different for everyone, but it contains common steps for all. It begins with the desire-to-desire God and to have a stronger, more intimate relationship with the spiritual side of our existence. With that desire, we carve out time to spend in prayer; novices might do well to engage with God once each day, usually at the time of waking or preparing for sleep; those farther along the journey might faithfully devote time with the Lord each morning, midday, and evening. Once our prayer period and format are established, we can move to contemplation, i.e., being in God’s presence, listening more than talking, and being inspired by our heart more than our head. As a consequence of the contemplative stage, we enter a purgative stage in which we recognize our shortcomings, sins, struggles, sufferings, failures, and unworthiness; this realization brings us to tears, humility, sometimes extreme guilt or even shame. But when we grasp what is going on, we are moved to understand the mercy of our Lord; and existing in profound relationship with the divine, everything changes. That’s why the twelve-step program is so impactful for those who hit rock-bottom and still choose life knowing that God (or a higher power) has got our back and will accompany us to the end. While Matthew’s Gospel records Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, saying, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect,” Luke has Him as saying, “Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful.” The way of perfection is through embracing divine mercy. |
| The highest rungs on the ladder of finding God take us to the unitive stages of our faith-journey. Many mystics and saints teach us how to get there, though they also warn us that it is an incredible challenge. Many people who pray daily know what it is to arrive at the unitive states of engagement with the Lord and some have become able to remain there for significant time periods or to gain meaningful, cataclysmic insights. Many of us also learn here that it can be overwhelming or even frightening to exist in awe (that awesome or awful reality) of God. The final leg of the journey moves from the unitive to the ecstatic state of being. Saints like Teresa and Ignatius visited there often. Some of you may have been there, too. We have read or heard stories of mystics who levitate or glow or receive the wounds of the crucified Christ when they experience such a oneness with God. It is, of course, overwhelming and much too much for common sojourners like us. So, what do we do? |
| With our limitations and inadequacies, we do the best we can to realize that God wants nothing more than for us to be saints, for us to one day arrive in heaven, for us to experience total happiness with Him. We acknowledge the saints—so many holy ones who are ahead of us on the journey and the way of perfection—and we imitate them as we are able. And we keep traveling the road of sanctity with our best efforts, knowing that we will fail and fall many times along the way. But we don’t give up. Let’s continue looking to good examples and follow them. |
| Here are some upcoming opportunities if you want to explore next steps with me in the month ahead. Each Thursday, at 12:15, in the Alvin Brooks Center for Faith-Justice at 5401 Troost, there is a Mass that calls us to deeper spirituality. Alvin will join us on November 5. I will offer mini retreats about today’s blog topic, Saints & the Way of Perfection, on Friday, October 30, 4-6PM, Tuesday, November 3, 2-4PM, and Wednesday, November 11, 9-11AM. Reserve your spot at one of them by emailing me at frdon@stjkc.org. You are also invited to the Farnan Spirituality Center for Mass on Sunday afternoon, October 25, at 1:00. I hope to see you at one of these upcoming offerings as we travel in the direction of Our Lord. |
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