Live like ‘saints in sneakers’

By Herman M. Lagon

Imagine a single mother who goes to church or parish and says to the secretary: ‘I want to baptize my son,’ and the attendant says: ‘No, you can’t because you’re not married.” This poignant anecdote conveys a crucial message about church inclusivity and accessibility. It challenges pastoral rigidity and emphasizes the need for a more welcoming, understanding, and flexible church. This view fits well with a widely circulated poem misattributed to Pope Francis, which resonates with the modern call for relatable and contemporary saints.

We need saints without veil or toner, says the poem. “Saints in jeans and sneakers are needed.” Unlike the traditional, austere image of sainthood, it depicts holiness in everyday life. This refreshing and profound imagery suggests that sanctity can thrive in modern life.

Young adults find this misattributed poem appealing and liberating, so it has sparked discussion. It implies that one can pursue holiness without sacrificing daily life. “We need saints who will go to the movies, listen to music, and stroll with their friends,” it says. This idea challenges the idea that a devout life must be without pleasure or worldly engagement.

Since authenticity is valued, this call for modern saints who are deeply rooted in contemporary culture is timely and necessary. “We need saints who put God first and excel in University,” the poem says, urging a balance between spirituality and ambition. Dispelling the myth that faith and success are incompatible requires this balanced approach.

The poem also calls for socially conscious saints. “We need saints committed to the poor and necessary social change.” This emphasis on social justice matches Jesus’ teachings and the church’s longstanding preference for the poor. It challenges believers to seek personal holiness and actively work for social justice.

The poem describes saints who “drink coke and eat hot dogs, who are netizens, who listen to iPod” to show that sainthood is about joyfully engaging with the world. This idea appeals in a digital age where connectivity and engagement are key. One can be deeply religious and immersed in modern culture.

“We need saints who love the Eucharist and are not ashamed to drink a beer or eat pizza on the weekend with friends,” it says. This line captures a balanced, integrated spirituality that enjoys sacred and secular pleasures. It rejects the false dichotomy between holy and profane and suggests that true holiness permeates life.

The poem also calls for “social saints, open, normal, friends, cheerful, companions” to emphasize community and companionship in holiness. It implies that sanctity is a shared experience. In an age of loneliness and social isolation, the church’s role as a place of welcome and fellowship is vital.

The poem also calls for saints “in the world and who can taste the pure and good things of the world, but without being worldly.” Navigating modern life requires discerning cultural engagement. It implies that creation’s beauty and goodness can be enjoyed without excesses or corruption.

Despite its misattribution, the poem’s message is authentic and agreeable with the first and only Jesuit Pope Francis’s teachings. The poem’s call for relatable, contemporary saints matches his emphasis on mercy, inclusivity, and world engagement. This suggests Pope Francis may not have written the poem, but its sentiments match his church vision.

The widespread distribution of this poem, especially on social media, highlights the desire for a more relatable holiness model. It reminds us that the call to sanctity transcends boundaries and embraces all human experience. It encourages believers to live their faith in all aspects of their lives by reimagining what it means to be holy in the 21st century.

Though not written by Pope Francis, the poem’s message about holiness is profound. It requires an open, inclusive, and world-engaged church. It encourages believers to embrace the world’s joys and challenges to find sanctity. Modern sainthood is inspiring and achievable, giving believers hope and a dynamic, relevant “way of proceeding.”

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Doc H fondly describes himself as a “student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.