Last night Australia's first Saint, Mary Mackillop was canonised in Rome. Not being religious this was something that I hadn't paid too much attention to in the weeks leading up. Of course I had noticed the posters up all over North Sydney and the works going on at Gore Hill Cemetery, the site of Mary's original resting place, but the day really didn't have any significance for me until yesterday afternoon.
Walking past the Cemetery, an old man stopped to ask for directions to the entrance. This sweet old man had all his Sunday papers marking the event and he had a Mary Mackillop balloon which he had got from the celebrations at North Sydney at the Mary Mackillop church. While he was talking to us about Mary Mackillop I couldn't get over how happy he was. The joy in his voice as he spoke of our new Saint was so uplifting and made me realise that it didn't matter that I wasn't a catholoic or even religious. Yesterday was a great day for all Australians who just want to be better people and who want to bring happiness to others.
While Mary Mackillop was recognised formally for her miracles, I think the canonisation yesterday can still have meaning for those of us who don't necessarily believe. We can recognise that a woman was selfless in her pursuit to help others and she was a woman who is still bringing joy to people over 100 years after her death.
Regardless of your religious beliefs we should all strive to be just as half as giving as this woman was.
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