In a "Peanuts" cartoon strip, Little Lucy, who is known to be ever-ready with unsolicited advice, is playing right-field in a baseball game. Charlie Brown is pitching. "Let's win one for a change Charlie Brown," Lucy cries out. Charlie Brown then throws his first pitch and the batter hits the ball to right-field. But Lucy makes no attempt to catch it. She just stands there and does nothing. Charlie Brown yells out at her, "If you're so interested in winning, why didn't you try to catch the ball?" To which a defiant Lucy replies, "My role is strictly advisory."

The saints of faith for us saw their role not only as advisory. They shared the faith with us, at times imperfectly like the rest of us, but still able to let God's mercy and grace shine through.