By Fr Arasu Lazar SDB
The topic of holiness is routinely preached in the Catholic Church. It is a baptismal calling which ought to be practised in our day-to-day life. We profess in our creed: “I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church,” and again we say, “I believe in the communion of saints.” Hence, it is an integral part of being a Christian and Mother Church assists us on our journey towards holiness. St. Dominic Savio is one of the youngest saints, who is not a martyr. He desired to be a saint even at the age of six. He was taught to believe that becoming a saint is only possible when one gets old, has practised rigorous penance and mortifications and when one is educated in scripture, theology and spirituality.
Little Savio practised them in his own simplicity. He walked to Church when it snowed, skipped meals to cause himself hunger and even placed pebbles in his shoes and bed so as to mortify his body. Fortunately, he came in contact with St. John Bosco, the patron of youth who believed that it is ‘easy to become holy and it is for all.’ Impetuous Savio exclaimed, “Is it so easy to become a saint? Father Bosco, I am a little cloth in your hands; make of me a beautiful dress for Jesus.” It was a turning point in his life. The boy lived the rest of his life happy, dutiful, virtuous and thus determined to be a saint. His desire to become a priest did not materialize as God took him to Himself when he was only 15 years old, but he died a great saint.
The Catholic Church proclaims people as Blesseds and Saints who excelled in the practices of virtues and gospel values. They are people who walked different paths in life and together formed a ‘cloud of witnesses’ for Christ’s charity. They are presented to God’s people as models of Christian living. Holiness is not optional for a Christian. Jesus said, ‘Be holy as Heavenly Father is holy.’ The Apostles called the first Christians to live holy lives. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrew instructs, “Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).
As learnt by St. Dominic Savio, to be holy, one must: be connected to God—the source of holiness, be separated to God as His possession, be separated from the common—things of the world, be separated from all that God says is unclean or morally defiles and be obedient to God’s Word. On 20th November 2022, the Church in Uganda and the universal Church will be blessed to have another witness of holiness in the person of Fr. Dr. Joseph Ambrosoli who dedicated his life for the service of the sick and poor in Northern Uganda.
Having completed his medical studies, he presented himself to the Comboni Missionary Society saying: “I would like to place myself at the service of the missions as a qualified doctor.” After his priestly ordination, he was sent to Kalongo mission to work as a doctor. A fellow medical worker said of him, “Fr. Ambrosoli held the Eucharist and a sick child in his hands with the same reverence.” Until 1987, he spent the rest of his life offering himself as a healer of souls and bodies. As it is said paradoxically, “Holy Mother the Church is full of sinners,” we walk hand in hand with our fellow pilgrims reminding each other of our need to be connected with God, to give up the lures of the world, live morally upright lives and be daily nourished by the Word of God. The reward is not only heaven but enjoying the joy of living right here on earth.
