More Like Eleazar

My news feed fed me this fervorino attributed to our currently reigning Holy Father:

"We need saints without cassocks, without veils - we need saints with jeans and tennis shoes. We need saints that go to the movies that listen to music, that hang out with their friends. We need saints that place God in first place ahead of succeeding in any career. We need saints that look for time to pray every day and who know how to be in love with purity, chastity and all good things. We need saints - saints for the 21st century with a spirituality appropriate to our new time. We need saints that have a commitment to helping the poor and to make the needed social change. We need saints to live in the world, to sanctify the world and to not be afraid of living in the world by their presence in it. We need saints that drink Coca-Cola, that eat hot dogs, that surf the internet and that listen to their iPods. We need saints that love the Eucharist, that are not afraid or embarrassed to eat a pizza or drink a beer with their friends. We need saints who love the movies, dance, sports, theater. We need saints that are open sociable normal happy companions. we need saints who are in this world and who know how to enjoy the best in this world without being callous or mundane. We need saints."

Since this statement surfaced amid the goings-on of World Youth Day, I figured that Francis must have said it there. In an attempt to find the precise context, I found this article by Deacon Greg Kandra at Patheos.

Then I caught sight of this moderate chastisement from Mary Rezac of the Catholic News Agency.

Gulp! Not Francis, huh?

For an instant, I considered turning in my Catholic Bloggers' License. Had I not done so voluntarily, I would be escorted out of the CBL headquarters with my head covered, paparazzi snapping away. One count of disseminating false information, endless counts of substandard writing...

At this point, I don't know who said the above, but somebody did; and he or she should be commended for it. Because it's true.

A man named Eleazar died and appeared before the Lord. Eleazar lamented that he wasn't more like David, or Esther, or Samuel. The Lord answered, "Why weren't you more like Eleazar?"

The Communion of Saints is as diverse a bunch as there will ever be. Christ is the only mold, and the peculiarities, technological and artistic expressions, of each age are more compatible than older generations give them credit for.

Here is one of my favorite poems. Its authorship is certain.

Seek first the Kingdom of God, and you will get all the appreciation you need