I should be looking to shield their flame and protect their burning candle.
Saint Josemaria used to advise his spiritual children that they should never blow out the candle of another person if the other person had lit that candle for Christ.
In other words, if a person was doing their best to adore God then it is never up to us – as mere humans – to work in any way to diminish the Glory of God by that soul…
And the Saint did not get this idea himself. He got this idea from Christ Himself…
“John answered, ‘Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you.’” (Luke 9:46-50).
The Apostles were learning on the job. They were responsible for going out and acting in the name of God. But along the way – just as any other employee or team member would – they learned how God would like this done… At first, they acted by trying to exclude others. They were not doing it under the tutelage of the Apostles, therefore – they reasoned – those people should be stopped. But Christ was not of this mindset. Rather, Christ said that where someone was doing Good in His name that person should not be stopped…
So many Saints were persecuted by the Church itself for their good deeds… Saint Mary of the Cross Mackillop was one of these. In speaking out against a paedophile priest she became the victim of persecution herself and was excommunicated form the Catholic Church for a time. Saint Padre Pio was attacked often by some members of the Church for his distinct holiness and the stigmata which he had, which was presented by those people as false and self-serving, when it was actually not at all.
The reforms of the Council of Trent as proposed by Saint Charles Borromeo meant that he was actually shot for his courage in speaking out. Saints Alphonse Liguori, Joan of Lestonnac and Joseph Calasanz (among others) were actually expelled by the institutions that they themselves had founded by their followers. And others, like Saint John Vianney were accused of false piety. Saint Bernadette Soubirous was distrusted for her role as a visionary of the Blessed Virgin, despite her piety in the convent… And Saint Faustina was accused of falsifying her illness (tuberculosis of the intestines) for attention…
And I have been reflecting on that today. For it seems that we must focus on what we can offer. For we can all be candles burning for our Blessed Lord. And instead of looking around at others with the intention to tear them down, I should be looking to shield their flame and protect their burning candle. For it should give me nothing but joy to see candles burning for my Blessed Lord…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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