Today, there is an apparent crisis of unbelief and preference for the unholy. Yet, the past century has seen a resurgence in saints and martyrs, even among the young. (See Robert Royal’s The Catholic Martyrs of the Twentieth Century, 2000.)

Seemingly, against all odds, there are stories of holiness emerging from ordinary people, across various ages and nationalities, who are captivated by Christ, nourished by Him in the Eucharist, filled with His grace and accompanied by His mother in prayer.  

Holiness should not be a surprise to those who know the way of grace. The Lord defies odds, always and everywhere, with His mercy and love. Truth be told, we are living in a time of superabundant grace.

In recent years, holiness in “ordinary” young people can be seen, such as in the lives of Blessed Chiara Badano (1971-1990), Blessed Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) and Venerable Matteo Farina (1990-2009).   

In November 2022, the bishops of the United States advanced the cause for sainthood of another young person, Michelle Duppong (1984-2015).  

Duppong grew up on her family’s farm in North Dakota and later served as a FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionary before dying of cancer on Christmas Day. While she prayed for a miracle of healing, she also prayed that God’s will be done.  

While serving as a director of faith formation, Duppong wrote a column, called “Run to Win,” for the Diocese of Bismarck. Her March 2, 2015, article, “Seeking Holiness in the Ordinary,” contained encouragement for readers: “You were made to be a saint. Do you believe that? Do you think you can do it? I want to remind you that there’s no doubt in God’s mind that you CAN do it! He made you for it.”

Duppong possessed a youthful clarity of mind and simplicity of heart that trusted in the Lord’s promises. She believed in God’s grace and her personal mission to become a saint. 

This sense of mission is worth reflecting on in our own lives. Do we possess this desire to respond to God’s love and to help Him reach souls? If not, we can ask God for this grace.

Do we believe the young people in our families, schools and communities are also called to holiness and capable of responding to God’s grace? If not, we can ask for the grace to see them with God’s eyes.

Are we prepared to present Jesus and the truth of the Gospel to the young, giving them access to a life of lasting happiness and holiness? If not, let us ask God how we can become His instruments for them.

Greater access to holiness also means more access to the sacraments. 

Pope Francis has been instrumental in advancing the holiness of young people by encouraging greater availability of the sacraments. One example of this is seen in the life of Carlotta Nobile (1988-2013).

Nobile was profoundly impacted by hearing Pope Francis’ first homily in St. Peter’s Square, which took place on March 24, 2013, World Youth Day and Palm Sunday. In the homily, he asked young people to carry the cross with joy. Nobile had already been diagnosed with cancer, but the pope’s words inspired her to seek out confession for the first time in years. 

Days later, she found only one church open as she looked for a place to confess. She learned later that the only reason that church was open at that time was because the parish priest had met with Pope Francis the day before. The Holy Father had encouraged him to “keep the doors open” to hear confessions all day Good Friday. As a result, he was there when Nobile arrived. 

That day began a process of deep conversion for Nobile, and she faced her cross in a new way. (“Young Witnesses” from the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, 2018, at secretariat.synod.va) 

Nobile later wrote to the Holy Father, saying, “You have changed my life. I am honored and blessed to be able to carry the Cross with joy at the age of 24. I know that cancer has healed my soul, by loosening all my interior knots and giving me Faith, Trust, Surrender. … I trust in the Lord.”  (from “Dear Pope Francis, Cancer Has Healed by Soul,” Aleteia.org, April 27, 2016)

Nobile and Duppong encountered Jesus through others. They responded to this grace, grasped it personally and lived the remainder of their lives in relationship with God. 

Let us pray and live to help other young people do the same.

Sister John Paul Maher, OP, is principal of Worthington St. Michael School and a member of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.