What is the purpose of life? Why was I created? God created me so that I can know Him, to love Him and to serve him in this world and to be happy with Him now and FOREVER in heaven.

The Universal Call to Holiness Who is called to be HOLY? EVERYONE is called to be a saint – to be “holy”! “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” – Matthew 5:48

One Call, Many Paths We are called to be holy in a particular state of life Priest Religious brother or sister Married Single STUDENT

How do I become a saint? + Receive the seed of holiness in baptism + Receive God’s grace (help) in: 1. Prayer 2. Sacraments + Cooperate with God’s grace by living a life of virtue in imitation of Christ

Is it REALLY possible? Without God, nothing is possible. John 15:5 - I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. With God, everything is possible! "What is impossible for human beings is possible for God." – Luke 18:27

“Say not, ‘I am too young’. . . – Jeremiah 1:7 “Dear young people, may it be your holy ambition to be holy, as He is holy… You will ask me: but is it possible today to be saints?  With Christ, saintliness – the divine plan for every baptized person – becomes possible.  Rely on Him… Jesus walks with you, he renews your heart and strengthens you with the vigor of His Spirit… . . . do not be afraid to be the saints of the new millennium!” - Pope John Paul II – 15th World Youth Day, Rome, August 2000.

1. Prayer 3. Fellowship 4. Service 2. Sacraments

HOW do I become a saint? The advice of Pope John Paul II: “Vertical” arm of the Cross The advice of Pope John Paul II: 1. Prayer: love prayer; Continue to listen to His Word, Listen to Christ’s Word in the Gospels Follow the Will of the Father, discovered in prayer through the Holy Spirit, with the help of a spiritual director (priest/confessor)

“Vertical” arm of the Cross . . . 2. Sacraments: draw strength from the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Penance.

3. Fellowship: Be active members of the Church and builders of peace. “Horizontal” arm of the Cross . . . 3. Fellowship: Be active members of the Church and builders of peace.

4. Service: Be generous in the service of your brothers and sisters “Horizontal” arm of the Cross . . . 4. Service: Be generous in the service of your brothers and sisters Use our gifts for God’s glory, not ours Accept sufferings to save souls

1. Prayer 3. Fellowship 4. Service 2. Sacraments

“Here I am, Lord ... I come to do Your Will.” – Psalm 40:8-9 I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life. - Pope Benedict XVI – Inaugural Mass Homily, April 24, 2005

Note to teacher At this point, I go through these young saints. I say “Name” and they respond so that it’s interactive. Know the stories of these young saints. Most were martyred. Connect to today’s type of martyrdom.

Try these saints on for size . . . Name: St. Cecilia Born: 100 A.D? Known for: Patroness of Music (vowed virginity, sung to God on her wedding day, her husband converted and died a martyr) Attempted to steam to death in bathtub, botched beheading, lived for three days preaching about Christ Went to Heaven at age: 17?

Name: St. Sebastian Born: 270 A.D.? Known for: Patron of athletes Roman soldier who was tied to tree and shot with arrows for converting people to Christianity (recovered, was beaten to death) Went to Heaven at age: 24?

Name: St. Tarcisius Born: 200 A.D.? Known for: Patron of alter servers. Young man who was attacked and beaten to death while bringing the Eucharist to prisoners. Could find no trace of the Eucharist after he died Went to Heaven at age:

Name: St. Lucy Born: 270 A.D.? Known for: Losing eyes in defending her consecrated virginity. Guards couldn’t lift her even with oxen (were trying to force her into prostitution). Stabbed to death with a dagger. Patroness of eye troubles. Went to Heaven at age: 13?

Name: St. Agnes Born: 290 A.D. Known for: Refusing to worship false gods, stripped but her Heavenly Spouse protected her. Probably stabbed in the throat. Name means “lamb.” Mentioned in First Eucharistic Prayer Went to Heaven at age: 13?

Name: St. Catherine of Alexandria Born: 278 A.D.? Known for: Confounding Roman emperor’s philosophers with her knowledge, converting them (they died as martyrs), attempted death on a spiked wheel (it flew apart and killed persecutors), finally beheaded. Went to Heaven at age: 18

Name: St. Elizabeth of Hungary Born: 1207 Known for: Princess who gave up her wealth to feed the poor, story that her husband intercepted her but the loaves she was carrying turned to roses. Died poor and rejected by her family. Went to Heaven at age: 24

Name: St. Rose of Viterbo Born: 1234 Known for: Franciscan, preached penance to people of Viterbo, miraculous powers from age 3, stood for three hours on a burning pyre, died a natural death Went to Heaven at age: 17

Name: Bl. Imelda Born: 1322 Known for: Lived with Dominican sisters, wanted first communion before 14, host suspended over her head, died in thanksgiving after Mass Went to Heaven at age: 11

Name: St. Joan of Arc Born: 1412 Known for: Seeing visions leading her to lead France to independence from Britain, burned at stake for charges of heresy (cleared 23 years later) Went to Heaven at age: 19

Name: St. Aloysius Gonzaga Born: 1568 Known for: Patron of Catholic youth – signed away inheritance to become a Jesuit, died caring for the sick during a plague Went to Heaven at age: 23

Name: St. Dominic Savio Born: 1842 Known for: Patron of Youth, saying, “Death, but not sin.” Wanted to be priest, but health prevented. Friendly to all, student of St. John Bosco Went to Heaven at age: 15

Name: St. Therese of the Child Jesus Born: 1873 Known for: Going to the Pope to ask to become a Carmelite at age 15, developing her “little way of love” to Heaven, showering roses on earth as sign of answered prayers. Died of tuberculosis (and love) Went to Heaven at age: 24

Name: St. Maria Goretti Born: 1890 Known for: Being stabbed 14 times while defending her purity from a 19-year old assailant. Forgave him and later appeared to him in prison with 14 lilies, converting him. He was at her canonization with her mother. Went to Heaven at age: 12

Name: St. Gemma Galgani Born: 1878 Known for: Humility and closeness to God, having the stigmata, seeing her guardian angel. Passionist tertiary Went to Heaven at age: 25

Name: Bl. Laura Vicuna Born: 1891 Known for: Sent to school to avoid mother’s abusive boyfriend, offered her life in exchange for her mother’s conversion. Child of Mary (Sodality) Went to Heaven at age: 12

Name: Sts. Francisco and Jacinta Marto Born: 1908, 1910 Known for: Doing penance for sinners, seeing our Lady of Fatima Went to Heaven at age: 11, 10

Name: Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati Born: 1901 Known for: Helping the poor, mountain climber, regular college kid. Went to Heaven at age: 24

Note to teacher At this point all you need to do is practice so that it flows with the song. The first slide has a couple of things in it. Song – Holiness by Sonic Flood.

Thank you for loving me more than I can ever imagine… ever deserve. Holiness . . . Dear Jesus, I love you so much. Holiness . . . Thank you for loving me more than I can ever imagine… ever deserve. FOREVER so that I can be happy with you in eternity - Help me, Jesus, because I want to love you more Today

is what I long for

Holiness is what I need

Holiness, holiness is what You want from me

Holiness . . . Holiness . . .

is what I long for

Holiness is what I need

Holiness, holiness is what You want from me

So take my heart . . . and form it

So take my mind . . . Transform it

Take my will, conform it . ..

To yours, to yours, O Lord

To yours, to yours, O Lord