Years ago, Milwaukee’s auxiliary bishop spoke to the confirmation class at the parish where I was a youth minister and opened the floor to questions. A student asked, “What is the purpose and meaning of life?”

Perhaps the youth tried to stump the bishop, who answered without missing a beat, as if he knew the question before it was asked.

“To know, love and serve God in this life so that you can be with Him in the next. In short, to be a saint.”

What do you think? Will you fulfill your life’s purpose and meaning? Will you become the saint you were made to be? Maybe you don’t feel that you will, that the saints are distant and so heroic and perfect that you’ll never live up to their standard. This month I shine a light on an often overlooked path to holiness: friendship with the saints.

We tend to become like those with whom we keep company. If we spend time with angry people, we become more angry. Spend time with generous people and we become more generous. Spend time with holy people … you get the idea.

So form your inner circle with saints.

FIND SOME COOL SAINTS

Search your life to find saints who are part of your story. You share your birthday with a saint’s feast day and might share a first or middle name with a saint. The parish of your baptism was likely named after a saint. What are your hobbies and passions? There is probably a patron saint for each.

Collect for yourself a good handful of saints. Five to eight will do.

LEARN THEIR STORIES

Reading about these saints is the key to bringing them to life. You will come to feel that you know them, and you will actually feel their love and want to change your life based on their examples. Sometimes you don’t connect with a saint, and that’s OK. Continue reading about others until you find those few who become your inner circle, those two to four saints with whom you have a deep, spiritual and loving connection.

BECOME A HUGE FAN

It is time to pray with them. Gather posters and cards with their names and images, and decorate your home, office or car with their influence. Talk to them throughout your day, celebrate their feast days, and even name your children after them!

*****

Saint Paul compared our journey through life to running a race. Form your inner circle of saints and they will be at your side, cheering you on, to help you on the journey and – in the end – wait for you at the finish line.

Dominick Albano is The Catholic Telegraph’s director of digital engagement, as well as an author and national speaker. He and his wife have been married for 14 years and have four sons. [email protected]

This article appeared in the March 2022 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.