How to be a saint

His Eminence Cardinal Burke, during one of his many visits to encourage, enlighten and console  orthodox Catholics around the world, visited London in November, at the invitation of the Latin Mass Society. He conferred the sacrament of confirmation in the Traditional Rite to 36 children and adults, and then celebrated a Pontifical Requiem Mass at Westminster Cathedral.

Above and below: Mass at Westminster Cathedral
photos copyright Joseph Shaw

During his visit, Cardinal Burke was interviewed for Mass of Ages, the Latin Mass Society's quarterly magazine. In the interview, His Eminence was asked the following question: "How does one become a saint, and achieve holiness in this life?" His response is well worth re-publishing:

Well, the principal means is the sacraments and, above all, the Holy Mass. If one wants to become a saint, one should deepen one's understanding of, and participation, in the sacramental life of the Church. He should make his life liturgical, in the sense of that holiness that we encounter in its perfection in the Mass - in other words, we encounter Jesus Himself, and the whole good of our salvation, in the Mass.  

[We are to] carry that with us, as the priest says at the end of Mass, 'Go forth, the Mass is ended'. The focus of our lives should be the Holy Eucharist, and then we bring from it that holiness which should permeate every aspect of our lives. Then, after this comes the prayer life and the devotional life, by which we live continuously the mystery of the faith that we experience in the Holy Mass. So that would be my number one exhortation.