The greatest of God's Saints faced and bravely chose the extraordinary challenges in their lives with heroic responses. Sacrificing with almost superhuman strength and ardor. And many lost their lives for those ideals. And the Church recognized and rewarded them with the worthy honors of sainthood.
But there are many, nay, countless, silent and unrecognized saints who shine in darkness, meeting challenges which could be considered most puny compared with those most altruistic pursuits of the saints. Yet, the efforts and passion expended could be richly compared as at par. And just as equally heroic.
And many of the latter ones did not spend their lives pursuing any hazardous apostolic missions for the Faith. Did not found organizations devoted to these ideals, or wrote glowingly about them. Were not endowed with special gifts given by the Almighty to manifest miracles, and other suprahuman feats.
They lived ordinary lives, most married and raised families during times of penury and other hardships. They suffered in silence but fought long and hard to keep families together. Uncomplaining, keeping tender noses to the grind. Thus, lives that could be characterized as very mundane and unremarkable, but kept true and faithful to the simple drab paths that led to the ways of Divine Providence.
They did exhibit the diversity common in most human lives. They found laughter and smiles in the little joys that came their way, while at the same time agonizing over the sins they could not avoid, since their flawed nature could not escape all however saintly they tried.
One of them was my own mother. In fond remembrance on this feted day for all of them.
And I quote from a book dedication I wrote about her.
"Challenges she did not necessarily select, but simply appeared in the course of living the life she had chosen."
