The ultimate goal of the Christian life is to become a saint. One day, St. Thomas Aquinas’ sister asked him a very simple but important question, “How do you become a saint?” He paused and famously replied, “Will it!” In Trail Life USA, Catholic Trailmen embark upon this journey of becoming ordinary saints by leading a life of …
Right praise and worship of God are central to the Christian life, and prayer is the wellspring of our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. According to St. John of Damascus, “prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God” (CCC 2559). In Trail Life USA, Catholic Trailmen experience a rich prayer life, including personal prayer, traditional communal prayer such as the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.
VIRTUE
Sin is the cause of all unhappiness, and true freedom is a life of moral virtue. A Catholic Trailman pursues holiness, armed with virtue—a habitual and firm disposition to do the good. The Theological Virtues (CCC 1812-1829), the Cardinal Virtues (CCC 1805-1809), the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1830-1832), and heroic virtue revealed in the lives of the Saints are a few examples of how Catholic Trailmen learn to live for God.
EVANGELIZATION
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). The Great Commission sends all Trailmen on mission to share the Faith with the world. Our nation desperately needs Trail Life USA to transform the country’s toxic secular culture. Sharing the Gospel message—the hope of the Risen Christ—and proclaiming with great ardor the kingship of Jesus Christ are integral to Catholic Trailmen.
SACRAMENT
The fullness of God’s grace is experienced in the seven Sacraments. For Catholic Trailmen, keeping the sabbath and participating in the sacrifice of the Holy Mass and the Eucharist, the “source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324), are essential. To grow in holiness, Catholic Trailmen regularly seek Christ’s mercy in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.
SERVICE
“Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26), and the mission of Trail Life USA includes leading generations of courageous young men to serve others. We are called to “serve one another through love,” (Gal 5:13) and service is one of the greatest expressions of our faith and love for God. Catholic Trailmen serve their fellow man, especially through the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
VOCATION
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles as “tonges as of fire” (Acts 2:3). Each Catholic Trailman, strengthened by the sacramental grace of Confirmation, sits vigil awaiting the Holy Spirit’s call, revealing his life’s vocation. Whether the priesthood, consecrated religious life, or the life of the Domestic Church, a Catholic Trailman carefully discerns what God reveals to him.
CATECHESIS
For too many youth, instruction in the Catholic Faith is limited to periodic sacramental preparation. In Trail Life USA, learning the faith is an enduring pursuit. To rightly order our lives to the Divine Will requires that we understand his commands. Drawing upon the rich beauty of both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, Catholic Trailmen gain a stronger knowledge of the Faith.
