Sometimes I feel that I would like to stop writing, precisely as a gesture of defiance... And yet it seems to me that writing, far from being an obstacle to spiritual perfection in my own life, has become one of the conditions on which my perfection will depend. If I am to be a saint - and there is nothing else that I can think of desiring to be - it sees that I must get there by writing books in a Trappist monastery. If I am to be a saint, I have not only to be a monk, which is what all monks must do to become saints, but I must also put down on paper what I have become. It may sound simple, but it is not an easy vocation.
- Thomas Merton, Day Unto Day
And I'm no Trappist, and will never be made a saint (in the Roman Catholic sense), but I feel much the same.
Comments (10)
It seems to me a bit strange, desiring to become a saint.
@TheGreatBout - I think it makes sense. If you have total faith that the formal decisions of the church are binding, and in the wisdom of the church beatification process, then to become a saint by the church means to have attained a certain approval from God, a stamp saying well done. It's like saying, "I'm Larry Higgins, and I haven't sinned in fifteen years."
Well... saint in the term we know it today? When the bible speaks of the saints, it speaks of all believers. I don't know. Maybe that is just one of the things that agrivates me about the westernized church. I know I totally missed the point of that post, but I had to do a little mini-rant anyway.
@SirNickDon - Good point. I guess I just see the "well done" coming from someone else, at a different time lol Though, having that stamp would rule.
Great post! Good thoughts to ponder =)
I am a saint.... the bible tells me so.
But yes I agree with the sentiment.
x
I really like this quote!
i love that quote! i have a few friends who want to be saints .. again not in the Roman Catholic sense .. but to be like a saint, and their journey and transformation is inspiring. it reminds me of them.
Sainthood. Truly amazing. I'd like to acquire that stamp. Very good, succinct explanation by the way. :)
I can hardly stand it when i hear people, esp. pastors, talk of us (Christ-followers) as "sinners." I mean, i just want to say "look man, there's past, present, and future. We were sinners, yes, but now Christ covers us, calling us saints. Paul even called the morons in Colossi "saints," then I think we might make that cut too
"