Blessed Solanus Casey: A Modern Model of Humble Holiness
Blessed Solanus Casey’s path to sanctity was not marked by an extraordinary events in his life, like other saints. Rather, his life shows that sanctity is lived out in the daily, mundane acts and in the situations God places us in. Humbly recognizing our part in God’s plan can help to gain sanctity in this side of life and draw others to Christ. This blogcast explores “Blessed Solanus Casey: A Modern Model of Humble Holiness" from the Ad Infinitum blog, written by Erin Donn read by Monica Thom Konschnik.
I recently attended a retreat where the priest warned us against the temptation to see the saints as mere pictures on holy cards or statues that decorate our churches. These icons of the saints and, more importantly, the real example of their lives are meant to call the heavenly host to mind so that we can call on their intercession and emulate their virtue in our lives. But the temptation nonetheless remains. For myself, I have realized this is in part because the saints can feel so distant. Many of them lived centuries ago, in times and settings that are vastly different from our own, while others live out piety or charity to a degree that can just feel unattainable.
This is where my blessed friend Solanus Casey comes in; he is one among many modern day saints. Born in Wisconsin in 1870, Bl. Solanus Casey grew up in a large Irish Catholic immigrant family. While technology and ways of living have changed dramatically in the 150 years since his death, Bl. Solanus Casey still rode in cars and took telephone calls. There are countless photos and even videos documenting his life as a friar. As an American, Solanus also lived and ministered in towns and cities that are familiar to us, like Detroit, Michigan, and East Harlem in New York City.
The familiarity of Bl. Solanus’ life reveals an example of everyday holiness that we can apply to our own lives today in the twenty-first century. He did not face the threat of martyrdom nor did he live his religious vow of poverty more radically than required. But in his life as a Capuchin Franciscan friar, he did profoundly witness to humility and poverty of spirit in the ordinary circumstances of his life. Whether in his winding and sometimes frustrating path to religious life, bearing chronic illnesses, or performing his daily duties well, Solanus showed how we can find the entirety of our lives within God’s gracious providence.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines humility as “the virtue by which a Christian acknowledges that God is the author of all good. Humility avoids inordinate ambition or pride, and provides the foundation for turning to God in prayer.” These words provide a good summary of Bl. Solanus’ approach to life. He initially began his studies for the priesthood at the diocesan seminary, however four years into his studies he was asked to leave. Solanus was barely passing some of his classes, but he was doing well in others. However, he was also studying in a German-headed diocese with strong anti-Irish sentiments. Despite this disappointment, and an initial distaste for the friary, he prevailed in pursuing the priesthood and entered with the Capuchins. Even here he struggled with his studies and when he was finally ordained in 1904 it was as a “simplex priest,” which offered him fully priestly faculties but prohibited him from hearing confessions or preaching homilies for congregations. A natural reaction to these trials would be discouragement or turning back, but Fr. Solanus abandoned these things to God, maintaining his trust in God and confidence in his vocation.
In many of the friaries where he was assigned, Fr. Solanus was given the job of porter, which meant greeting people and answering telephone calls at the friary. It was particularly in this role that he made up for his inability to preach homilies that he was still able to touch thousands of lives as individuals came to him for counsel and healing. As news of his miraculous prayers spread, Fr. Solanus would spend hours each day meeting with individuals seeking his assistance. It was through Solanus’ obedience to this unremarkable job that God was able to do remarkable work.
Throughout the ups and downs of his religious life, Fr. Solanus’ journal entries often ended with the simple phrase, “Deo Gratias.” Solanus rejoiced in knowing “the richness of life which has come to [us] by the grace of God.” He was able to receive all in his life, the joys as well as the struggles, as the will of the Father. May we learn from Bl. Solanus Casey how to remain faithful to God in all circumstances, confident that the Lord is and will always work all things for our good.
Further reading:
Odell, Catherine M. (2017). Father Solanus Casey: Revised and updated. Our Sunday Visitor.
Author:
Erin Donn serves as the parish missionary at Immaculate Conception Church in Washington, DC.
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