Today I stumbled on a story about Frank Simmonds. I had never heard of him, but was intrigued as soon as I began to learn a few things about him. His story is told in a book entitled,  “Convicted by Mercy”: The Journey of Frank Simmonds from the Streets to Sanctity.  “This riveting book by his wife, Rita Simmonds, tells the true story of a saint. A saint who was a crack addict. A saint who was a shoplifter and did time. A saint who once lived in a cardboard shack on the roughest streets of New York City. A saint who, one cold night, told God that he would serve him for the rest of his life, and who was able to make good on that promise in the most extraordinary of ways.” 

What struck me was how “normal and matter of fact” both Frank and Rita were about their relationship with God and each other. You could sense the Lord interacting with them in such a kind and wonderful way, but in normal ways. There was no “sugar coated, theological, Latin descriptions of their relationship with God and each other. It was real and funny… they were funny. You could have made a successful movie or TV series out of their life. In the midst of this crazy life, you saw people loving God and becoming holy. 

Holiness doesn’t just happen in a cloister or monastery. It happens in the midst of a crazy world with flawed individuals. It gives me hope. Maybe that’s why I always enjoy reading about Dorothy Day…she was “real” and didn’t fit the picture of the normal saint. Mother Angelica (EWTN Founder) was another one who just didn’t fit that mold. Fr. Benedict Groschel (CFR Founder) didn’t fit that mold either….. his classic comment, “Hey, if God doesn’t judge New York City, he owes Sodom & Gomorra an apology”.  I don’t think Fr. Benedict smoked cigars, but I could certainly picture him chomping on one. All of these saintly people had a sense of humor and loved to laugh…. it’s okay for saints to laugh.

Okay, so what’s the point? Well, I think we can sometimes feel that we need to be pious in order to be holy. Hey pious is good, but holiness is broader that being pious, and acting saintly and righteous…… . “Down to earth, non-fancy, gruff, grinding it out life” can be holy. Loving God and loving our neighbor can come in a lot of different forms…. beyond just our personal prayer time. Don’t get me wrong, our prayer is very important and should empower us to go out and change the world for Christ.

The Lord speaks about this kind of holiness in the parable of the Good Samaritan. This story is pretty messy and unorthodox and the religious people don’t look so good. “Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”(Luke 10:30-37)

Oh Lord, help us to “put our money where our mouth is”…. to love in practical ways…to be able to speak about our wonderful Lord in regular words and regular deeds. May Mother Angelica and Fr. Benedict, Dorothy Day, and Frank Simmonds pray for us. And may we experience real joy as we walk this earth.