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A person’s call to holiness is both mysterious and unique. It evolves over time through each person’s unique human condition. It follows the spiritual adage, “Grace builds on nature.”

This call to holiness knows no vocational boundaries. Indeed, it is universal in scope. As Christians, it is grounded in the Sacrament of Baptism. The pouring of the water symbolizes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, calling the individual to a prophetic life of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We often hear the words “baptism by fire.” This expression describes a person who experiences something in a very sudden, risky, and intense way that challenges the person to quickly adapt and prove him/herself. Allen Lund experienced his “baptism by fire” at 19 years of age. It sowed the seeds of a nascent belief in God. A couple of years later, it would germinate through the Sacrament of Baptism through a special relationship with “Her.”

As Pope Francis writes, “We are never completely ourselves unless we belong to a people….no one is saved alone…God draws us to himself through relationships.” Indeed, we are called to holiness by building the Kingdom of God on earth, by enriching the lives of people through the gifts that God has given uniquely to each of us. Allen Lund, through his Baptism by Fire and the Holy Spirit, was infused with an understanding of this beyond natural means – indeed, it was truly supernatural.

A “Renaissance Man” of keen intellect, superb intuition, well versed in topics far and wide – and without a college education – Allen grasped that his Baptism would call him to create a community of love and well-being for everyone. It would begin with his marriage to his wife, Kathie and the creation of their family. With time, it would spread like wildfire in the development of a national corporation and again, in the tangible fortification of Catholic institutions, parochial and educational.

Allen Lund got it! One’s salvation is not an individual experience, rather, it is borne through the creation of communities that reflect our Baptismal call, namely, ones that work to reflect the unity of the Blessed Trinity – the perfect community of love.

BE GOOD The Allen Lund Story reminds us that we are all called to holiness through the gift of Baptism. We are all called to be “saints.”

Pope Francis in his apostolic letter, Rejoice and Be Glad writes, “There are heroic people, hidden saints who belong to the ‘middle class of holiness’ that you do not see but they are there.” The “middle class of holiness,” as defined by Francis, is composed of people who are “heroic in their everyday life, seeking the good of others and in this way, finding their own good.”

Accordingly, whether married or divorced, single or separated, Baptism challenges each of us to grow in holiness through the daily, ordinary, humble practice of our own vocation. This was and will always be, Allen Lund.

Our call to holiness deepens as we grasp the essence of our Baptism. Holiness reaches a pinnacle when we come to know how much we are loved by God – that is, unconditionally. This love is not earned or some “payment plan” for what God has done for us over our lifetime. This unconditional love is re-discovered when we reach this point in our spiritual life. Allen came to a profound understanding of this later in life; it was experienced through tears of joy that streamed down his face.

Allen’s journey is our journey. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, “We become ourselves only to the extent that we acquire the ability to acknowledge others.” This comes through God’s grace.

Our call to holiness is mysterious and unique. Grace builds on our human condition.

“Just be yourself, everyone else is taken.” Oscar Wilde

Bishop Matthew G. Elshoff, OFM Cap.

Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Los Angeles

And Allen’s Friend of 30 Years