When we look at the great saints in the Church Triumphant, we find model after model of holiness, prayer, virtue, and more. Have you ever looked at that hall of fame lineup and felt like you were looking at an impossible mountain to climb? Or perhaps a saintly life was something that was more possible in ages past, but not now? Servant of God Cora Evans has wisdom for us on that. 

In the Introduction to the Life and Writings of Cora Evans, Cora’s close friend, Br. Edward Behan, FSC, shares about her writings, insights, and spiritual life. Here are two teachings from Cora on asceticism: the first stays on the conceptual level, and the second brings in the practical aspect. 

“Dogma never changes, but asceticism does.  We cannot live now as John of the Cross did.  And, on the other hand, our asceticism of today would drive him crazy, as for example, taking a shower every day, or stopping for red signals when driving.  I think no two saints are alike.  Their culture has changed.  The asceticism proper to them has changed.  All their writings, therefore, are secondary to Holy Scripture.  Christ is the only one we can follow.” (pg. 167)  

At first glance, I feel like I need to defend St. John of the Cross. He’s the Mystical Doctor! Wasn’t the so-called Reformation worse than a red traffic light? Let’s take a step back; I think Cora is trying to teach us a few things.  

First, it isn’t so much that life was easier in the 16th century—comparing ourselves to holy saints is a bit of a red herring. Asceticism just isn’t easy, period, because the battleground is the human heart. Simply because a person has great spiritual gifts does not mean that their lives were easy. Not to mention their ascetical practices!  

Second, she’s highlighting the complete uniqueness of every human soul and their fit within the divine will. St. John of the Cross wasn’t just born in any era; his unique, unrepeatable soul was destined by God for 16th century Spain, with certain gifts, and to have the effect that he did. St. John was great because of Christ, not himself.    

This is where the universal call to holiness gets some solid roots. I am not called to be St. John of the Cross, yet I am still called to greatness in Christ. That will very naturally look different for me than it would for anyone else! God created me to be here, in 21st century United States, in my vocation, in this parish, and so on. Saints remain our great friends, models, and intercessors. In this teaching, Cora Evans invites us to join all of our favorite saints in following the Master, Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Continuing with an example of modern asceticism, Cora gives us practical advice. 

“Saint Aloysius taught me that the first thing to be done in the spiritual life is to crucify the senses. 

One sense at a time is to be tackled and concentrated on for one week.  For that week, the sense we have decided to crucify is to be curbed five times a day (no more than five—to do otherwise would be like ignoring a doctor’s prescription and taking all the medicine in one dose with the foolish hope of getting quicker results), without duplicating it in the course of the week. 

This trains our alertness so that when we see things around us, we first think of their symbolic meaning and then of what they are… For example, the light in this room reminds us ‘I am the light’; the paint reminds us of the sacrament of penance; the mirror, the mirror of justice, for it shows me as I am, even the smallest hair that is out of place; the red rug, His Blood; the floor, His cross, etc.” (pg. 114)

As in the St. John of the Cross example above, in case we need another reminder: crucifying the senses is not easy for any man or woman.  To start down that ascetical path, St. Aloysius’ advice reinforces that the spiritual life is a marathon, not a sprint.  Similar wisdom in focusing on limited durations for each day: curbing one sense, five times a day.  It’s more of a facet of human nature than a quirk of the spiritual life.  Taking on too much at once doesn’t work in parenting, eating, exercising, or a professional job.  

Is there some part of us that expects the spiritual life to be without struggle? We are a resurrection people, yes, but the resurrection only came after the crucifixion. 

Cora’s examples of associating ordinary things—a lamp, paint on the wall, a mirror—in a spiritual manner brings one thought to my mind. What would my day be like if I thought of Christ first in everything? What if He was constantly in my mind? This is one modern way of applying St. Paul’s exhortation to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

What if every I saw the lamp and said a quick prayer to the Light of the world? Lamps, candles, can lights, street lights—they’re everywhere. Christ is everywhere. Christ illumines the world on a level far deeper than these lights. And no darkness is so dark that it can extinguish a light. Take these types of ordinary images that Cora suggested and sit with them.   

I encourage a greater reflection on Cora Evans’ writings; her points on asceticism are especially perceptive during Lent. Run the race and fight the good fight!