Imitating Christ: A Catholic Path (for Novices)
Dear Novices,
It is a joy to be with you today,
to talk about something so fundamental and transformative to our Catholic
faith: the call to imitate Christ. Novitiate is a new chapter in your
lives, a time of formation and deep listening. And in this time, the question
naturally arises: “What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ?” The
answer, in its most profound and challenging form, is to imitate Him.
But let us be honest, “imitating
Christ” can sound daunting. It might invoke images of extreme piety, endless
suffering, or a life lived so differently from our own that it feels
unattainable. But I want to propose a different way of looking at it—not as a
burden, but as an invitation, an invitation to friendship, to joy, and to a
life of profound meaning.
So, how do we begin? As Catholics,
we have a rich tradition and a clear roadmap. We don’t have to invent the
wheel. We simply have to follow the path laid out for us by the Saints,
the Scriptures, and the Sacraments.
1. Know Him to Imitate Him
You cannot imitate someone you don’t
know. Our first step is to get to know Jesus. Not just as a historical
figure, but as a living person, our Lord and our friend.
·
The Gospels: The Gospels are our primary
source. Read them, not as a history book, but as a love story. See Jesus in
action—healing the sick, eating with sinners, praying in solitude, and
challenging the powerful. Notice His compassion, His courage, His humility. This
is the model we are called to follow.
·
A Story of Compassion: Think of the woman
caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). The Pharisees were ready to stone her. They
were following the law, but their hearts were hard. Jesus, with His perfect
compassion, knelt down and began to write in the sand. He didn’t overlook her
sin, but He also didn’t condemn her. His words, “Let him who is without sin
among you be the first to throw a stone,” challenged their self-righteousness.
And then, with gentle authority, He told the woman, “Neither do I condemn you;
go, and from now on sin no more.” This is the heart of Christ—a love that sees
the person, not just the sin, and offers a path to new life.
·
Prayer: Prayer is a conversation with
Christ. It’s in the quiet of our hearts that we can hear His voice. Try to set
aside time each day for personal prayer, whether it’s simply talking to Him, or
using a guided method like lectio divina to pray with Scripture.
·
The Eucharist: The Eucharist is the very
body and blood of Christ. When we receive Him in Holy Communion, He becomes a
part of us. We are transformed by this encounter, nourished and strengthened to
live as He did.
2. The Virtues of Christ: A
Practical Guide
Imitating Christ isn’t a vague
ideal; it is a practice of specific virtues. The saints have shown us the way.
Let us focus on a few key ones:
·
Humility: Christ, though God, “emptied
himself, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). Humility is about
recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God. It is about serving
others without seeking recognition and putting their needs before our own. In
your community, this might look like offering to help with a routine, listening
patiently to a fellow novice, or accepting a word of correction with grace.
·
A Story of Humility: Saint Therese of
Lisieux, a Doctor of the Church, lived a life that, from the outside, seemed
very ordinary. She wasn’t a missionary, a martyr, or the founder of a large
order. But she lived what she called her “Little Way” of spiritual childhood.
Her humility was found in the small things: a smile to an annoying sister, a
quiet act of service no one would notice, or accepting a misunderstanding
without defending herself. She realized that even the smallest act of love,
done for Christ, is more valuable than grand deeds done for our own glory.
·
The Story of St. Philip Neri and the
Novice:
·
St. Francis of Assisi, in his early life,
was a wealthy and proud young man who loved to ride horses and dream of
knighthood. One day, he encountered a leper on the road. Leprosy was a
terrifying disease in those times, and lepers were social outcasts.
Instinctively, Francis felt revulsion. But then, an inspiration from God moved
him. He dismounted his horse, walked over to the leper, and not only gave him a
coin but also kissed his hand, a sign of profound humility and love. In that
moment, Francis later wrote, what was once bitter became sweet. He realized
that in serving the most despised, he was serving Christ. This single act of
humility was a turning point in his life, marking the beginning of his radical
conversion to a life of poverty and service.
·
Charity (Love): Jesus’s life was a
testament to love. He loved the outcast, the poor, and the sinner. We are
called to love as He loved. This means not just having warm feelings, but
actively willing the good of the other. It means forgiving those who have
wronged us, serving the poor, and speaking the truth in love.
·
An Example of Charity: Think of Saint
Mother Teresa. Her mission was to serve the “poorest of the poor” in the slums
of Calcutta. She didn’t choose the most comfortable or prestigious work. She
chose to love those whom society had forgotten. She saw the face of Christ in
every person she served, in every dying man, every abandoned child. Her love
wasn’t a vague idea; it was a real, radical act of service. When someone
criticized her for not doing more to solve poverty, she replied simply, “I am
not a social worker. I am a follower of Christ.”
·
Story of St. Maximilian Kolbe and the
Auschwitz Prisoner: During World War II, at the Auschwitz concentration
camp, a man named Franciszek Gajowniczek was condemned to die of starvation as
a punishment for a prisoner's escape. Gajowniczek cried out in despair,
"My poor wife! My poor children!" Hearing this, St. Maximilian Kolbe,
a Polish priest, stepped forward. He stood before the German commander and
offered himself in exchange. "I am a Catholic priest," he said,
"and I want to die for that man. I have no wife and children." The
offer was accepted. Father Kolbe was sent to a starvation cell where he led the
other condemned prisoners in prayer and hymns until his death. His act of
self-sacrificial love saved a family and stands as a shining testament to
Christ's command to "love one another as I have loved you.”
·
Poverty of Spirit: Jesus had nowhere to
lay His head. He was free from attachment to worldly possessions. Poverty of
spirit is an interior detachment. It is about recognizing that our security is
not in our possessions or our status, but in God alone. It is a freedom that
allows us to share what we have and to trust in God’s providence.
·
A Moral Anecdote: A wealthy man once came
to a hermit, complaining that he was unable to find peace. The hermit listened
and then said, “My son, your heart is full of many things. You must empty it to
make room for God.” The man left, confused. The next day, the hermit brought a
small, beautiful teacup to the man’s home, but when the man tried to pour tea
into it, it overflowed. “It’s already full of water,” the man said. The hermit
smiled. “So is your heart. Empty it of all the things you cling to—your wealth,
your status, your worries—and you will find that God can fill it with His
peace.”
·
Obedience: Jesus’s life was one of perfect
obedience to the Father’s will. He prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done”
(Luke 22:42). Obedience, for us, means listening to the voice of God in our
hearts, in the teachings of the Church, and in the guidance of our superiors.
It is a surrender of our own desires for a greater good.
·
Story of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Her
Conversion: Elizabeth Ann Seton was a high-society New Yorker, a devout
Episcopalian, and a young widow with five children. After her husband's death,
she was deeply drawn to the Catholic Church, especially after witnessing the
faith of her Italian friends. The thought of converting was agonizing. It would
mean social ruin, losing the support of her family and friends, and facing
immense hardship. But she felt an undeniable pull, a profound obedience to the
truth she found in the Catholic faith and the Eucharist. Despite the pain and
the uncertainty, she made a difficult choice to follow God's call. She was
received into the Church and, against all odds, went on to found the first
community for religious sisters in the United States, the Sisters of Charity,
and establish the first free Catholic school for girls. Her obedience to God's
will, in the face of immense personal cost, became a foundation for the Church
in America.
3. The Sacraments: Our Lifeline
We are not expected to do this
alone. The Church and especially the sacraments is our lifeline.
·
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession):
This sacrament is a direct channel to God's mercy and forgiveness. It is
not a ritual of shame, but a profound opportunity for healing. When we sin, we
damage our relationship with God and with others. Confession is the means by
which this relationship is restored. It allows us to acknowledge our failings,
confess them to a priest who acts in the person of Christ (in persona
Christi), and receive absolution. This act of humility cleanses the soul,
strengthens our will against future temptation, and offers a tangible reminder
that we are always welcome back into God's grace. It's a key part of our
journey, as we'll inevitably fall, and this sacrament provides the means to get
back up and continue.
·
The Eucharist: The Eucharist is central
to Catholic belief and practice. It is not merely a symbolic representation
but, according to Catholic doctrine, the true Body, Blood, Soul, and
Divinity of Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread and wine. In
receiving the Eucharist, we are united with Christ in a deeply personal and
transformative way. This "spiritual food" nourishes our souls, giving
us the grace we need to live out the virtues of Christ—like humility and
charity—and to persevere through the challenges of life. It’s an intimate
encounter that strengthens us to follow His example and become more like Him.
·
The Story of the Two Workers
Two men worked as stonecutters for the
same master. The first man labored with great effort and skill, but he was
always complaining. "This work is hard, the stones are heavy, and the days
are long," he would grumble. He would often rush his work to get it over
with, and he took no joy in it. The second man, however, worked with a quiet
joy. When asked what he was doing, he didn't just say, "I am cutting
stones." He would smile and say, "I am building a cathedral for the
glory of God." The work was the same for both, but for the second man, his
labor was an act of worship. He was imitating Christ in his daily toil,
offering his work with love and intention.
In Conclusion
Imitating Christ is not about becoming
a carbon copy of Him. It is about allowing Him to live in and through you. It is
about making your own heart a little more like His. This journey is a lifelong
process, full of ups and downs, but it is a journey filled with grace.
Remember the words of St. Paul, who
understood this call deeply: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives
in me” (Gal 2:20).
So, in this time of formation, I
encourage you to be intentional. Look at the crucifix and ask, “What is He
calling me to do?” Look at the Gospels and ask, “How can I live this out today?”
And then, in the simplicity of your daily life, in your prayers, your work and
your relationships, strive to live with His heart.
May you be truly blessed on this beautiful and challenging path.
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