By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Anyone of merit wants their children to grow up to be good and virtuous persons—intelligent without arrogance, strong but gracious and kind, beautiful without vanity, courageous to do what’s right, charitable to those in need, thoughtful, etc. Most parents, remembering their own faults and failures, weaknesses and regrets, long for their children to be improved (sometimes much improved) versions of themselves or of family members/mentors whom they themselves admire.

This is why many Christians celebrate various saints throughout the year: to provide examples not only for their children, but also for themselves. Just as a young athlete might have posters of sports heroes on the wall or computer/phone wallpaper/lockscreen to help motivate them to higher performance, Christians often have depictions of favorite saints on pictures, medals, etc.—Jesus’ mother Mary usually the favorite among favorites because of her single-minded dedication to her Son and the will of God which Christians long to emulate: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to thy Word.” (Luke 1:38)

Because of such imagery, many mistake that Christians “worship” saints, but that is absolutely incorrect; saints are simply remembered and venerated for their virtues and fidelity in following their Christian faith. But medals and the like are not magic talismans or “tickets to Heaven”. Christians are availed nothing if they do not at least try to live a good life according to the will and teaching of God; indeed, is this not why they are called “Christian”?

Now, we know that wealth and power can both be corruptive influences unless those who have them are very determined to do what is right, and strong-willed so as to not abuse others simply because they can. The wealthy and powerful thus have temptations that many of us do not. We remember: “… give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full, and deny thee …” (Proverbs 30:8-9)

Such came to mind recently when the Catholic Church remembered St. Louis, king of France in the 1200s. He was a product/monarch of his time, so you’ll find wars and crusades in his biography, but nonetheless had a sincere love for God and the Church. His letter to his son, too long to reproduce here, is filled with good and fatherly advice, such as: “… dear son, the first thing I advise is that you fix your whole heart upon God, and love Him with all your strength, for without this no one can be saved or be of any worth … have a tender pitiful heart for the poor, and for all those whom you believe to be in misery of heart or body, and according to your ability, comfort and aid them with some alms … see to it that all your associates are upright … love all good, and hate all evil … give thanks to God often for all the good things He has done for you …command your judges that you be not in any way upheld more than any others, for thus will your councillors judge more boldly according to right and truth.” (LINK).

But many others of royalty are recognized as saints as well. One thinks of St. Henry, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in the 1000s, noted for humility and of encouraging virtue, such as when his biographer quotes his letter of establishment to provide for the Church and the faith: “…we are taught and advised to abandon temporal riches, to lay aside earthly goods, and to strive to reach the eternal and everlasting dwelling-places in Heaven. For present glory is fleeting and meaningless, while it is possessed, unless in it we can glimpse something of Heaven’s eternity.” (The Liturgy of the Hours, Vol. III, Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1975, p. 1532)

One of the most beloved royal saints is St. Elizabeth of Hungary (her niece was St. Elizabeth of Portugal), notable for her great charity toward the poor. Married at age 14 and widowed at 20, she gave away all that she had to succor the sick and the needy. Her biographer relates: “Twice a day Elizabeth went to visit the sick. She personally cared for those who were particularly repulsive … she built a hospice where she gathered together the weak and the feeble … before her death … she asked me to distribute everything except a worn out dress in which she wished to be buried.” (Ibid, Vol. IV, p. 1567-58)

These few hardly exhaust the list of royal saints, and such are by far the minority among the saints. Yet by them we are heartened that any and all are called to lives of virtue no matter their station in life … to give of whatever we have been blessed with. Few of us are royalty or rich, but ALL of us can do good works stemming from true virtue and faith. Even the bedridden do good by their prayers and being present for those needing a comforting word … a reassuring touch.

Yes, Christians honor and venerate saints, but worship only God; we admire saints insomuch as they reflect Christ’s own goodness. Yet Jesus is highest of all royalty—literally infinitely more so—not only as being God, but by the total self-sacrifice He demonstrated to, and for, the world. Thus He gives us the ultimate example of true and absolute royal virtue. Is it not wise, then, for we who wish to enter His Heavenly kingdom, to emulate and follow Him with whole heart?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [of angels and saints], let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.