One of the former provincials of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr Mathew Maruvathrail SDB, had this experience. When he was an aspirant, as he went home for holidays, he took with him two holy pictures—one of Dominic Savio and the other of Don Bosco. Seeing the pictures, his mother asked him who they were. Showing the pious-looking picture of the young boy, with his eyes looking up to heaven, young Mathew said that it was saint Dominic Savio. The mother nodded approvingly. And showing the other picture, of a priest with a smiling face, surrounded by a group of unruly youth, he told her it was saint Don Bosco, the founder of the Salesians. Finding it hard to believe what he said, his mother exclaimed: “Eh, what kind of a saint is this? He does not have the look of a saint. He is not serious!” Apparently, someone with a smiling face surrounded by unruly youngsters did not fit her standard of holiness. Saints are supposed to be serious and austere-looking, with a rosary or cross in their hand. Or, are they?
Holiness in God
When the word “holy” is used in the Bible, it means mostly “that which is separate,” and “that which.” is without blemish.” It is in this sense that the Bible speaks of God as holy (Isaiah 6:3; Leviticus 19:2; John 17:11; 1 Peter 1:15-16). God is totally separate from creatures in the sense that God is supremely transcendent. And God is without any blemish whatsoever. He is full of goodness, rather, he is Goodness. The Old Testament calls God “the Holy One.” Because God is full of goodness and mercy, he is very close to us and tenderly cares for us and tells each of us: “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3); “I have carved you on the palm of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16), “I will rebuild you” (Jeremiah 31:4).
Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil SDB
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