Book Review: 12 Steps to Sacred

Gabriel Garnica, an author on Catholic Stand, has written, 12 Steps to Sacred: A Guide To Becoming the Saint You are Meant to Be,  a book crammed with the wisdom of the Catholic Church, steeped in Scripture, but most of all grounded in personal faith. Garnica inspires us “to only use our God-given and lent Gifts to bring glory to God and service to others. They will truly help make us the Saints we were each meant to be”.

This spiritual guide immediately reminded me of a friend’s encounter with a warlock on a bus. A member of Madonna House in Combermere, Ontario, Martha was shocked when this arrogant but articulate man pointed out every Christian on the bus because could ‘see’ a bright blue light in each person of faith. He then turned to Martha and laughed, “Christians are so stupid; they have no idea that  the Holy Spirit lives within them”.

It is true; the average Catholic really believes holiness is reserved for a few chosen souls who are showered with divine revelations and given supernatural grace to become saints. Gabriel Garnica clears up this misconception in his inspiring yet down-to -earth book:

First, we imagine that any path to sanctity must be a massive undertaking, pretentious, or steeped in fanfare. Such is the vanity of our age.

Second, by pretending that path is so superhuman, we etch a convenient excuse as to why we will not even try to undertake that path. By admitting that the path is simple and requires love, we expose our passive and lazy lack of motivation to undertake even the simplest effort toward the sanctity that God knows we can reach if we try trusting in His Grace.

12 Steps to Sacred is based on well known 12 step programs. The basic approach of twelve step programs is “self-reflection, embracing one’s incapacity to overcome a disorder on one’s own, admitting past missteps, and surrendering to God as the path out of one’s darkness”.

Gabriel Garnica’s book is written in clear bullet points, making it easy to follow and apply but it is not a book to skim and read quickly.  He encourages readers to savour each concept and meditate on them by enhancing most pages with inspiring quotes from the saints or Scripture, powerful memes, as well as beautiful art.

12 Steps to Sacred emphasizes the truth that God has given every Christian practical tools to release the saint hidden within each of us. Yet, this book is not a dry, technical how to manual but rather a joyful invitation to answer God’s call to become saints. Garnica reminds us to:

Find God’s peace and simplicity in the present.
Detach yourself from anything that does not lead to your sacred destiny.
Embrace humility, simplicity, and silence as paths to sanctity.
Transform sharing into sacrifice and accelerate your growth to sanctity.
Turn falls, suffering, and rejection into opportunities for sanctity.
Joyfully trust in and even await The Lord’s surprises with patience.

The “Questions for Reflection and Discussion” at the end of every chapter or “step” encourage reflection; they are also perfect for group study sessions.

Most of us who call ourselves Christians are living truncated lives in the Spirit, lives devoid of  supernatural joy and a sense of mission or purpose.  12 Steps To Sacred: A Guide To Becoming the Saint You are Meant to Be condenses the richness of the Catholic faith and lifts us out our apathy to start the journey into the heart of our loving Father.

Accompany Gabriel on an exploration of the destiny God wants for each of us.  Check out his book to find out what this is all about.

12 Steps to Sacred: A Guide To Becoming The Saint You Were Meant To Be