Sanctity is the same as pleasing God. What Our Lord looks for is our intention to draw close to Him. God does not take an accounting of our actions, but rather looks at the sincerity of our intention in every act that we perform. We must have confidence in the goodness of God despite the situation of the world and our own shortcomings.

Michael means “who is like unto God.” It signifies his unique strength and special purpose in salvation history. St. Michael’s service to Our Lord should not be understood in a purely militant way. He is an icon of remaining vigilant to serve God, in whatever way we are called to do. His service to Our Lord is also a reminder that we must be humble, for St. Michael assisted in casting down rebellious angels, and so we must ask ourselves if we are any better than they. 

The blood of Christ is a new affirmation of God’s love for us. Through the shedding of Jesus Christ, we are given a path of salvation. It is the eternal love that shall never be replaced. Jesus shed His blood for our eternal salvation out of love.

Our Lady’s role in our redemption is singular. We know from the beginning and end of Scripture that Mary brings us to Christ. She is our mother and it belongs to her to destroy all heresy, all evil, and ensure the triumph of God in the world.

To love God with our whole heart, mind, and soul is not something we can achieve on our own. What we must do is ask the Our Lord for the grace to abide by this command. In order to do this, we must cultivate a spirit of humility. We too often believe that our own natural efforts can lead us to taking a virtuous path. Yet without God, we can do nothing.

The expression “friend, go up higher” sounds like both an encouragement and a command. All of God’s commands are intended for our betterment. God approaches us as friends, not a tyrant. He encourages us along the path of life’s way. Through His grace, we are elevated to the possibility of eternal life.

God will take care of us despite the difficulties we face in life. We can believe in God’s providence and still feel overwhelmed. We claim that we trust in God, but still pull back. He knows us totally. If we lose sight of this, pray reflectively the Pater Noster (Our Father).

God has care for all the creatures in the world. We must always keep confidence in Our Lord. To find sanctity, we must have humility and confidence in His Fatherly goodness. Our confidence in God is based on His love for us, His infinite wisdom, and His absolute power over everything.