ANSWER by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM on May 24, 2004

Dear Dave: Well, you might be a little scrupulous in worrying about being scrupulous ;) How to be a Saint? Live the good Catholic life -- frequent reception of the Sacraments (Eucharist and Confession), submitting oneself to the Church in all that it teachings (whether that teaching is infallible or not), maintaining loyalty and fidelity to the Pope and the Magisterium in union with the Pope, doing works of charity and mercy, give up self and give all to Christ, etc. etc. To best become a Saint, and to have the greatest hope for that, we need to avoid sacrificing the best on the altar of the good. Most people settle for the good and do not pursue excellence. We are called by God to excellence. The Church, however, understanding that many people, for whatever reasons, will not find the road of excellence, establishes minimum standards. As long as one meets those minimum standards then they too have the hope of heaven. Living according to minimum standards, however, is like taking the risk to travel the last 25 miles of a trip when the gas indicator in the car reads empty. It would be better to ensure the last 25 miles by have more gas in the tank. God, in His great mercy, does not require any of us to be Ph.D's in our spiritual maturity. It is okay to be a 4th grader. What God expects of us is to be moving toward 5th grade. If is takes 40 years to get from 4th to 5th grade that is OK. As long as cobwebs are not forming on one's feet God is pleased. As for how far we get in our spiritual maturity and growth, it does not matter as long as we are doing the best we can, as long as we are trying, and as long as we are moving (no matter how slowly). It is certainly better to enter heaven as a 4th grader in grace than to enter hell as a Ph.D in sin. Also, one of the most important things you can to to help you down this road to perfection is to find a good Spiritual Director. A Spiritual Director can help you discern if you stray into the wrong direction. Finding a Spiritual Director is a problem. The Devil knows how to contaminate the Faithful and thus the devil has populated the field of Spiritual Direction and Retreat Houses and even monasteries with those who are heterodox and sometimes even heretics. Be very careful in seeking a Spiritual Director and in doing retreats at Retreat Houses (even those at monasteries). The problem of improper teaching at Retreat Houses is so bad in the United States that I recommend people presume the worse unless evidence proves otherwise. Formal training for Spiritual Directors found in most diocese in the U.S. are just as bad. Many of these programs are not that orthodox and loyal to the Church and the Catholic worldview. Always check out the Retreat House, monastery, or Spiritual Director to ensure they are truly loyal, obedience, and orthodox Catholics. One needs to look hard, because the devil thrives in subtlety. The clues that a Retreat House, monastery, or Spiritual Director is not fully loyal and orthodox can be very subtle. To help in this discernment, I recommend to everyone the book, Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within by Father Dubay. This book will give advice on what Spiritual Direction is or is not, how to find a good Spiritual Director, and what to do if one cannot find a Spiritual Director. This is a MUST read. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary