Welcome to the Sainthood Challenge

I want to thank you for taking up the "Mantle" so to speak on the Sainthood Challenge. Know that I will be walking with you. You can see a summary of the Challenge including a day-by-day (or week-by-week) guide here.

I want to be clear. This is not a "shortcut" to sainthood. That does not exist. This is simply a way for us to "clear the plaque" from the mouth so we can see the teeth. To strip away that which is keeping us from being saints. It isn't perfect, but that is part of the process. If you don't want to be one of the "public members" then don't feel you can't do the challenge separately. In reality, by being a part of this you are publicly stating you are in God's army to undermine the Devil. There will be attacks and this will be difficult. I can't overstate that.

In fact, let me be completely blunt.

If you do this right, your life as you know it is going to be wrecked.

Completely and totally wrecked.

My own life changed in August of 2008. My father had a heart attack. My brother's kidney failure became much worse. I had spent the summer on the internet instead of with my family. It occurred to me while reading Peter Kreeft that I did not desire sainthood. "If you will look into your own heart in complete honesty, you must admit that there is one and only one reason why you are not a saint: you do not wholly want to be." That quote by William Law that Kreeft is fond or repeating convicted me.

If you look on the blog you can read my post from late August, early September. I didn't back down from it and it has been my passion for the last year.

I lost 30 pounds by finding discipline in my eating habits.

I started praying and reading Scripture more.

I actually spent time with my family and stopped wasting time at work because doing work at home was not an option.

Financially, our family was supposed to have our best year ever (on paper). It became a disaster. There were moments when my wife and I were praying that we could at least just keep the house over our heads.

Professionally I started to turn down speaking engagements because of my job at the high school. I was writing but didn't feel inspired to write another book. I was teaching, but I wasn't in love with the material. I felt we were leaving out some great tradition from the Church and not letting our students be saints.

Our house was refinanced at the last moment by the grace of God. The details are too much, but the timing was too coincidental to not be God.

I am currently under contract for a new book. (not related to the Project)

I was not renewed in my contract for next year at my job because I was "too passionate about the faith." I taught religion.

You can't make this stuff up.

I'm telling you this because I pray your life gets disrupted in a similar fashion. Because in all of the trials, the tears, the praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament for Jesus to just give me a break, I continually went back to that original post and heard God ask, "Were you serious?"

I want more saints in this world. More John Paul IIs. More Mother Theresas. More Padre Pios. More Edith Steins. More Terese of Lisieuxs. More Francis of Assissis. More Thomas Aquinases. More Catherine of Sienas. More Augustines.

I want examples of righteousness and holiness to follow, to inspire me, to be an example for my daughters.

I want to see others working on being saints so that they can start their own sainthood projects to change the world.

It starts here. I hope that one day you will do this with others.

This is what I would ask from you.

1. A short bio to introduce you on the website.

2. Please journal or comment on the website each day about what impacts you in the project. This is important for other that may be working on it less publicly. Your testament to what is going on in your life is going to help others.

3. Tell others about the Project. Share it. It isn't meant to be hidden, or protected, or put under a bushel. If someone asks what is changing in your life, tell them. If something hits you that someone writes, pass it around.

4. Communicate with me if you have an issue. Let me know your prayer requests. For us, we need to, as a group pray for each other as we go through this process.

Let's change the world.

Todd

Mark 10:17-30