Alex Deschênes is a specialist in John Paul II’s theology of the body and founder of Ignis, a Canadian organization dedicated to “form and counsel young people, couples and parents by helping them to embrace an authentic masculinity or femininity, to discern and pursue their vocation.” Here, he shares with Aleteia some tips on becoming who we really are made to be.
“If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire!” This was a powerful statement made by John Paul II (inspired by St. Catherine of Siena) at the closing of WYD in Rome in 2000. He also used to like to repeat this injunction of the Greek poet Pindar: “Become who you are.”
That sounds good, but how can we do that? Simply by giving yourself, by loving. To whom can we turn as models in this matter? The saints. Alex Deschênes explains why.
1TO BECOME YOURSELF, LET YOURSELF BE TRANSFORMED BY GOD
“God is the one who knows us most intimately,” Alex Deschênes says, and He wants to reveal our identity to us. We are his children and He, as our Father, wants us to know Him and to be like Him.
This closeness comes through prayer. “The more I converse with God, the more I resemble him.” God has the power to transform us. “To become ourselves, let us allow God to transform us, allow Him to do the work in us.” Just like the saints!
Indeed, the saints have allowed themselves to be transformed by God. “They are the most unique people in the world! People who follow what’s fashionable are all alike!”
God comes to enlarge our hearts, to transform our wounds into places of healing, of witness, of joy, in order to make us more like Him. “Being holy means becoming the best version of ourselves.”
2TO KNOW YOUR WORTH AND DIGNITY
To become who I am, I must first know who I am. No one can take away from us what we are: we are beloved children of the Father. God has made us His children and we are worth more than anything else in His eyes.
It’s good for us to know that we have infinite value in God’s eyes, that we are unique and irreplaceable. In fact, what we have to give, no one can give in our place. Mother Teresa used to say, “Give yourself entirely to God. God will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your weakness.”
3LOVING, GIVING YOURSELF
Love is the royal road to becoming yourself. It is by loving and by practicing virtues that the saints became themselves.
Virtues are like muscles, moral forces within us that must be worked and practiced daily. Everyone is called to develop generosity, courage, respect … “The more I practice a virtue, the more it becomes a part of me, and the better person I become.”
Jesus transformed the world by giving His life. Being a gift, giving yourself, means really becoming who you are. “You become a gift to others when you love as God loves you.” It’s an invitation to love, whatever your vocation in life: in marriage, celibacy, or the consecrated life.
And today we celebrate...