My 3 Favorite Saints

St. Thérèse of Lisieux is my beloved saint since I was a little girl. I found it easy to identify with her since I had bad asthma attacks when I was little, and she had her share of illness too as a child. She died at 24; lived 15 years of cloistered religious life. One would wonder how a young and recluse girl could become a Doctor of the Catholic Church. Her life was immensely inspiring to me, not because of the grandness of it, but rather of its simplicity. Her autobiography "Story of a Soul" fortified my longing for Love. In all its mystery, pain and glory.

Zaidee (to whom this blog is dedicated; she lives in Miami, Fl.) is also my favorite saint. Zaidee was my dormitory room mate while I was a university student more than 10 years ago. She taught me so much about prayer, not in words but by example. Watching her pray in our little dorm room was a powerful testimony of her faith and love for God. Zaidee is a Muslim who taught me how to be a good -or at least I try - Catholic. My desire to pray like she prays brought me closer to God. I remember the times when we would giggle in our room sharing stories of victories (mostly about exams barely passed, but passed anyway or cute guys we saw in the lobby who smiled our way) and thanking God! Because of Zaidee I learned that God is God of all. That He is so much bigger than what we could possibly conceive of Him. That God is Love. He loves not one, but every one.

Orion, my husband, is another favorite saint in my list. Orion was baptized, confirmed and received the Eucharist on the day of our wedding. It was 4 Sacraments rolled into one, on that beautiful February afternoon. He was first Baptized and then Confirmed before Matrimony and the Eucharist were ministered. So while I was seated there beside him, in my wedding gown, I couldn't contain my tears and my joy. I never truly understood what a "calling" was until that moment. I could almost feel the whole Cloud of Witnesses (my St. Therese included) right there watching over us, welcoming him with songs of praise and thanksgiving. What amazing grace it is for me, that from that very day onwards, Love came into my life. Orion made God real to me through Love. Everyday I see how my husband teaches me that "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7)


I am just glad there is a day to honor saints. And that I live around them or they are up there praying for me...

 -written on All Saints Day, 1st November 2010