You can be a saint too!

The Spanish Episcopal Conference presented today, October 24, the Diocesan Church Day Campaign, to be held on November 9, under the slogan «.«You too can be a saint«. Thus, the Secretariat for the Support of the Church invites us to connect holiness with our daily lives.

Vicente Rebollo, bishop in charge of the Secretariat for the Support of the Church; José María Albalad, director of the Secretariat; and Lourdes Grosso, director of the Office for the Causes of Saints.

Bishop Rebollo explained that this year's campaign focuses on celebrating holiness: «It is something essential in the life of a Christian, a vocation that every baptized person has. He also stressed the beauty of the Diocesan Church Day, which invites us to be an active part of the Church, to understand and discover that we are an important part of the universal Church. »It is important that each one of us feels like a church, that we know that our common home is our diocese«.

Holiness, more relevant than ever

«Holiness is conceived as something of the past, as a black and white picture,» says José María Albalad, explaining that, in the face of a world in which a utilitarian god prevails, it is countercultural to speak of holiness and «that is why this call is transforming. The desire for holiness of each one, he said, is the best way to contribute to the support of the diocesan Church. He thus emphasized Pope Leo's call at Tor Vergata to »aspire to great things and not to settle for less.

The campaign cover shows a ‘gamer’ with the image of Carlo Acutis in his room, being a direct invitation to find inspiration to lead a life of holiness in the «friends of God». This campaign has found special inspiration in this saint, who has been a great impetus for young people to approach the Church. His surprising and rapid arrival at the altars is seen as a clear work of the Holy Spirit, manifested especially through the medical miracles attributed to his intercession. «Providence wanted this young man to be recognized as a saint with a special force, and his example has inspired many young people to contemplate holiness as a possible and near goal in everyday life» comments Lourdes Grosso.

«Holiness is the most beautiful face of the church,» says José María Albalad. Thus, on the campaign's web page, saints and blessed have been selected and made known through a brief biography and a prayer. Albalad comments that in this selection there are saints that few people know: «in this world where success is measured by ‘likes’ and followers, there are very fruitful lives in the shadows, without opening the front pages of newspapers».

Lourdes Grosso has pointed out that November 9, the date that coincides with the dedication of the Basilica of St. John of Beltran, has a profound providential meaning. In her words, sustenance and holiness can go hand in hand, for it is clear that what really sustains the Church is the Holy Spirit together with the life of the saints. Pope Francis expressed his wish that, on this date, the Church would make present all those who have lived saintly lives in every territory - saints, blessed, venerable and servants of God - even if not all of them enjoy public worship, so that they may be known and remembered. This gesture seeks to highlight the importance of holiness in the particular Church and to remind us that we ourselves are called to be the future saints who will continue to sustain the Church.