Criteria: I consider anyone I have known, even by a single conversation or attendance at a public lecture. The below are not flawless in regard to heroic virtue, emotional maturity, or theological orthodoxy. Rather, each has been possessed by and radiate the truth, mercy, love and holiness of Christ in such depth and intensity that the imperfections are drastically diminished.
First, the heavy hitters: I spoke with Mother Theresa and Dorothy Day. I attended two lectures by John Paul, one audience with Pope Benedict, two conferences with Kiko Arguello, one with Cardinal Suenens and one with Bishop Fulton Sheen. (Pretty good start, eh?)
Father Joe Whelan S.J. is the holiest person I have known. He taught me mystical theology at Woodstock Jesuit Theologate in NYC 1970-2. At the same time, I studied fundamental theology with Avery Cardinal Dulles S.J. whose breath and depth of theology was infused with a modest holiness of life.
Fr. Mariusz Koch, Franciscan Friar of the Renewal, is the holiest living person I know. Everyone who knows him agrees. This order (notwithstanding failings) is the most holy culture I have known: it's depth and intensity, closeness to the poor and prayer life, come from founders: Fathers Groeschel, Apostoli, Sudano, Pio and others.
My father and mother, Ray and Jeanne Laracy, and maiden Aunt Grace lived lives of quiet, modest holiness. They were formed in the great Depression and the war, products of larger families and the broader Church that looked to God for help in times of trial and suffering.
John Rapinich (my best friend) and his wife Mary impacted me closely. We participated in the charismatic renewal; he lived in our house; he introduced me to the Neocatechumenal Way. With Frank and Jeanne Palumbo they catechized my original community exemplified the striving for holiness.
Leadership of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the 1970s would include prominently Ralph Martin and locally Fr. Jim Ferry. Our own prayer group in Christ the King was led by a marvelous group of women: Sister of Charity Patricia Brennan, Dominican Sister Marge Jarosz, Kay Ready, Gloria Jeanne, Joan, Betty.
Fr. Paul Viale (charismatic), Fr. John Wrynn S.J., Fr. Neal Dougherty S.J., and Fr. Ray McKeon who served me as spiritual directors.
Betty Hopf was a dear sister to us and aunt to our children.
Sister Joan Noreen, founder of Our Lady's Missionaries of the Eucharist, was our spiritual mentor in recent years.
In Jersey City, Sisters of Charity Maria Martha Joyce, Virginia Kean, Margaret McCarthy all worked with the poor, taught school and were spiritual "big sisters" for me .
Sister Marilyn Minter and fellow Felician Sisters set a tone of holiness where I taught in Immaculate Conception HS.
In my college seminary years, Maryknoll fathers Tom Malone and Jack Halbert were exceptional. My personal mentor was librarian Pat William.
Among my classmates several stand out: Fr. Jim Lee who died slowly of ALS after a fruitful priestly life; Fr. Larry Lewis, a delightful, eccentric, insightful master of the spiritual life; and John Harper who has built his identity and work upon the 12 steps.
In the parish of my childhood, St. John's Orange NJ, Fr. Dante DeGioralamo, known for his devotion to the Holy Face, was saintly in a vivid way. But the large body of priests, Christian Brothers and Sisters of Charity all created a general ambience of goodness.
David L. Schindler, for me the premier Catholic American theologian of our time, embodied the "praying theology" of Balthasar, personal holiness combined with brilliant erudition. He set the tone for the entire faculty at the John Paul Institute in D.C.
That school has a close relationship, through thinkers like Monsignor Albacete, Fr. Antonio Lopez and Fr. Paulo Prosperi, with the Communion and Liberation Movement. This is another striking environment of Godliness open to all the goods of Creation.
Among Protestants, I was impacted in the Charismatic Renewal by Ruth Carter Stapleton (healing of memories) and other Evangelical-Pentecostals.
In studies at the liberal Union Theological Seminary, NYC, I encountered holiness in Anne Ulanov, Samuel Terrien, Will Kennedy, Sister Mary Boys and others.
At Seton Hall University I was privileged to study under Fr. Larry Frizell and Rabbi Finkel, outstanding scholars of admirable character and spirituality. Immaculate Seminary there features similar thinkers including Monsignors Liddy, Guarino, Joe Rielly, Doctors Bill Toth and Dianne Traflett.
Christian Brother Ray Murphy has been for many years a big brother, friend, mentor. Additionally he calls to mind the Christian Brothers who taught me from grade 5-8 in St. John's Orange NJ 1958-61 as well all the brothers in our Church.
Recently, Presbyterian Reverend Cindy Wilcox has mentored us in hospital ministry: high energy, talented, radiant with the love of Christ.
Ivan Illich is the last because he is by far the least canonizable. He was heterodox in significant ways. But he made clear he was not a theologian. He was a brilliant, eccentric, passionate, mystic, prophetic critic of modernity.
I have surely been unusually blessed, over the years, in my associations.
I am proud of my list of 65: 2 canonized saints, 2 two popes, 2 cardinals, 1 bishop, 5 founders of religious orders, 3 founders of renewal movements, 4 monsignors (I never met a monsignor I didn't like. Pope Francis didn't like monsignors; that was his problem!) 18 priests, 24 women, 9 of them sisters, 5 Protestants, 1 Jew, 1 Brother, 2 ex-priests, 4 eccentrics, 18 are alive today.
As I finish, I am mostly aware that I have been blessed to live always in communities that are far from perfect, but open in faith to God, striving towards him, aware and contrite for our sins and failings. This includes family, friendships, parishes, schools, ministries, and renewal groups of varying sorts. The hermeneutical key to Catholic life is not perfection; actually it is imperfection. It is desperation, craving for and trust in God.. It is awareness of sin and weakness, honesty in confession, reception of pardon. It is gratitude and joy in praise. It is attraction to and association with those who are strong with us in this walk.
I invite you, dear Reader, to consider your own personal litany. You will find it encouraging and inspiring. What is your top 10, or 20, or 65?
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