"You may be the only saint someone will ever meet."

*Unknown*

One of my best friends, Ellen, sent me this quote today, she had heard it at Mass this morning. It's a powerful quote; a reminder that we are all, in our own right, Saints. That just because we have not been canonized does not mean we are not all living Saints, in all that we do. My mind and heart have been sent on a journey today. My day began early, so I could go to Mass at the Mount this morning. Mass was gorgeous as always. A happy reminder of Christ's love and presence. After the Mass, however, is when things really hit. There was an anointing of one of the Sisters at the Mount who is preparing for surgery tomorrow morning. The Sister sat in the middle of the chapel and some gathered around her and laid their hands upon her during the anointing. It was powerful; but even more so, was that everyone else (after the blessing) was invited to come forward and lay their hands on her on their way out of chapel. I stood back for awhile and watched as her fellow Sisters laid their hands upon her; some silently, some whispered words that brought tears, other words that provoked an outburt of laughter. I was scared at first, not wanting to go up there myself--not sure what to do or what to say or not say---but I knew with this particular Sister I especially needed the courage to let myself be present. It was all overwhelmingly touching---a wake up to call to what life is really about, to what Community (in all forms) is about, and what the true value of faith really is. My mind has been going ever since; thinking about my own life, the Saints that surround me everyday, and for tomorrow, those Souls who have gone before me. I was surrounded by a group of Saints this morning; I looked all around today during Mass and thought of how each one of them had somehow been a Saint to me in my own life, whether it be by a welcoming smile, a hug, or hour long conversations of the heart---regardless of how big the action may seem, they all made a difference.

It is an amazing thing; to be in a beautiful chapel, surrounded by so many Saints, whose unconditional love and prayers are ever so present in your life. Now, if that doesn't send the mind and heart on a journey, I am not sure what will. It's a good journey, one we must all be faced with, one to be looked at. No matter your religion or lack of, no matter your political views, regardless of age and race, to look at what it truly means to be a Saint, to love and be loved, and the meaning of community are all things we should seek to find the answers.

*The picture above: My hands embraced with S. Mary Faith's. Every week I go and read poetry to S. Mary Faith. She has alzheimer's and is wheelchair bound--I was told she didn't know what was going on---but I do not agree. There are moments when we are reading poetry and she'll read a few words or the title--she'll follow. Other times she'll take my hand and just smile, and other times, she'll want to keep reading on and on. Disease can take away some of the brain--but it can never take away the soul and sometimes if you ignite the soul with its passion, it overrides the strength of the disease. Poetry was S. Mary Faith's passion and when you bring it to her, the passion conquers the Alzheimer's---but few take the time to realize that. I know in my heart she knows me, she knows I love her, and the joy for poetry comes alive when we read* May God bless her and may she be a constant reminder for all of us to be living Saints.