Saints In The Making

Goal

At the end of this household, the family members should be able to:

1. Understand that everyone is called to holiness and sainthood.

2. Recognize that the family is the first place where we learn and practice holiness.

3. Choose a personal Saint Buddy who can inspire and accompany them in their journey of faith.

Gift

A gift is something unasked for, but freely given. Time is a gift. Let us offer this gift most especially to our own families by scheduling a short family household. You may do it during mealtime or downtime, after Mass, or whenever it is comfortable to gather the whole family.

Glory

Opening Prayer

Lord, thank You for calling us to become saints. Thank You for our family and for the examples of the saints. Open our hearts to understand Your call to holiness. May our home become a place of love, forgiveness, prayer, and faith. Help us journey together towards heaven. Amen.

Pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

Grab

Getting to Know the Saints - Ask each family member:

1. Who is your favorite saint? What do you know about him or her?

2. If you could choose one saint to be your personal buddy, who would it be? Why?

Grace

Read: 1 Peter 1:15–16 (NABRE) - "Be holy because I am holy."

A. WE ARE ALL CALLED TO BE SAINTS

Sainthood is not reserved for a chosen few. It is the calling of every Christian. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2013, teaches that all Christians, regardless of their state or walk of life, are called to holiness.

We do not need to perform miracles or do extraordinary things to become saints. Holiness begins in ordinary things: choosing to love, forgiving someone, helping others, praying, and doing what is right even when nobody is watching.

B. OUR JOURNEY TO SAINTHOOD STARTS IN THE FAMILY

The Catechism, paragraph 1657, teaches that the family is the first school of Christian life.

Our home is where we first learn to love, forgive, sacrifice, serve, and pray. We may not have a perfect family, but every day gives us opportunities to practice holiness.

Parents help their children grow in faith. Children learn to honor their parents. Siblings learn to love and forgive one another.

Our family is not just a place where we live together. It is a place where we help one another get to heaven.

C. WE HAVE SAINTS AS OUR BUDDIES AND COMPANIONS

Read: Hebrews 12:1. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us.

The saints are our brothers and sisters in Christ who have already reached heaven. They inspire us through their lives, and they continue to intercede for us. The Catechism, paragraphs 956–957, teaches us about the intercession and example of the saints.

We can choose a personal Saint Buddy whose life inspires us and whose virtues we want to imitate.

Some examples:

• St. Joseph: Humility, obedience, and fatherhood.

• St. Monica: Perseverance and prayer for the family.

• St. Therese of Lisieux: Doing little things with great love.

• St. Carlo Acutis: Love for the Eucharist.

• St. Francis of Assisi: Simplicity and generosity.

We do not worship the saints. We honor them, imitate their example, and ask for their prayers. Remember that we are all called to become saints, our family helps us grow in holiness, and the saints inspire us along the way.

Gather

Family Sharing

1. What does becoming a saint mean to you?

2. What are some ways our family helps one another grow closer to God? What can we improve?

3. Who will be your personal Saint Buddy? What virtue of this saint would you like to imitate?

Go Forth

MY SAINT BUDDY!

This week, every family member will:

1. Choose one saint to become their personal Saint Buddy.

2. Learn about the saint's life and identify one virtue to imitate.

3. Create a simple Saint Buddy card with the saint's picture, name, virtue, and a short prayer asking for their intercession.

4. Display all the cards in a special place at home.

Make it a family practice to share something about your Saint Buddy and pray together for one another.

Family Commitment: "We will help one another become saints. We will make our home a place of love, prayer, forgiveness, and holiness. Together, we will journey towards heaven!"

Group Family Photo

Take a family picture with your Saint Buddy cards!

Suggested caption:

Our family, our journey, our goal: HEAVEN!

We are all called to be saints. May our homes become places where holiness begins and where we help one another grow closer to Jesus.

#FamilyOfSaints #RootedInChrist #CalledToBeSaints

Key references: CCC 2012–2014 (Universal Call to Holiness), CCC 1655–1657 (Domestic Church), and CCC 946–957 (Communion of Saints).