Remembering and celebrating Blessed Archbishop Fulton Sheen this past week made me aware that he is a specific type of holy person. I call such "gifted" in distinction from contrasting types: humble, mystical and ordinary. The gifted saint combines holiness of life, prayer, and charity with an abundance of natural gifts and so is able to do so very much good. Such a person has high intelligence and so might be a theologian or teacher, but also other gifts: emotional stability, high energy, agency, purposefulness, charm, sense of humor and appeal. They are "influencers"...for the good.
Number one gifted saint on my list is St. John Paul II. Hands down most gifted saint ever. GOAT.
Sheen is competitive for number two.
In recent memory I would consider: Mother Teresa, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Fr. Patrick Peyton, Monsignor Luigi Giussani, Chiara Lubich, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Dorothy Day, Catherine Doherty,
Founders of religious orders and movements usually fit this category. Additionally, such also receive from heaven some specific "charism" or way of life that expresses the Faith in a way both creative and loyal to tradition. Obviously: Benedict, Francis, Dominic, Ignatius of Loyola, John of the Cross, Elizabeth Seton, Katherine Drexel, Cabrini, etc.
Among the living we see Bishops Barron and Eric Vardem, Kiko Arguello, Ralph Martin and his colleagues in the charismatic renewal.
A contrasting style of holiness is the "humble": those without great natural gifts, often quiet and unknown, who walk "the little way" in deep trust, humility, charity and simplicity. The supernatural eventually shines through precisely that "littleness" and miracles often follow. The prototype here is St. Theresa of Lisieux. Hers was a hidden, modest, quiet life; but almost immediately after her death her journal spread across Christendom. Her spirit reigned over the 20th century with all its evil. We might include here Solanus Casey, Brother Andre, Fr. Leopoldo, Josephine Bakhita, Elizabeth Lisieux, and so many unknowns.
A third category might be called the extraordinary, supernatural mystics. All saints are mystics and all of us are called to mysticism, usually of a quiet, ordinary nature. But some are visited by heavenly, unnatural activities: stigmata, bilocation, levitation, reading of hearts, victim souls, dark nights of the soul, miracles, physical attacks from Satan, locutions, revelations, and incorruption after death. In recent memory we have: Padre Pio, Adrienne von Speyr, St. Faustina and the recipients of Marian appearances.
Our final and most pertinent type: ordinary holiness. This is our path. We lack the natural gifts of the first and the supernatural of the third. But our role model is the second: humility, trust, charity, gratitude. This is the path of the Holy Family in Nazareth: engaged in the ordinary, in quiet communion always with God. This requires decision, discipline, persistence...but above all trust as it is not something we do of our agency but God does it within us by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
We emulate the gifted saints as we gratefully use the abilities and opportunities we have received. Like the mystics we suffer...patiently, passively, trustingly, perseveringly...our specific afflictions and sufferings.
But above all, we open our hearts in trust to God's love, like the humble ones, to become recipients and dispensers of the Divine Mercies.
Lord,
Make me an agent of your Mercy,
Make me a servant of your little ones,
Make me a radiance of your holiness.
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