All Saints Day

[cappie]

The two days, All Saints and All Souls this week, weave together beautifully. All Saints' Day inspires us with the lives of the saints, while All Souls' Day grounds us in the reality of our own mortality and the importance of treasuring our earthly connections. Together, they remind us of the Catholic teaching that we are part of a larger spiritual family—a communion of saints and souls striving to become the best versions of ourselves.

As we commemorate these days, we draw strength from the examples set by the saints, and we find comfort in the cherished memories of our departed loved ones.

Firstly, on the Feast of All Saints, we come together to remember and honour those women and men who have gone before us, whose lives serve as examples of faith and devotion.

The Feast of All Saints is a time when we commemorate not only the canonized saints of the Church but also all who have found their eternal rest in the loving arms of our Lord.

The word "saint" often conjures images of extraordinary individuals who performed miraculous acts, endured great suffering, or led lives of extraordinary virtue. While these remarkable saints are indeed an inspiration to us all, the Feast of All Saints is a reminder that holiness is not limited to the extraordinary. Holiness is a call for each and every one of us, and it is within our reach. It is a calling to live a life of love, compassion, and unwavering faith in God.

The saints we honour today came from different backgrounds, experienced diverse challenges, and lived in various times and places. Some were martyrs who faced persecution and death for their faith, while others were humble individuals living quiet lives of service. What unites them all is their unwavering commitment to God and their dedication to living out the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The lives of these saints teach valuable lessons. They remind us that holiness can be found in the everyday moments of our lives. Holiness can be found in the kindness we show to others, in the forgiveness we extend to those who have wronged us, and in the love, we share with our neighbours. It can be found in our commitment to justice and in our efforts to alleviate suffering in the world.

The saints we commemorate today also remind us that holiness requires perseverance. They faced obstacles, temptations, and doubts, just as we do. But through it all, they held fast to their faith and continued to seek God's will. They teach us that it is possible to overcome the challenges of life, no matter how daunting they may seem, with the help of God's grace.

“In the morning of life, and at noon, and at evening,
he called them away from our worship below,
but not till his love, at the font and the altar,
had clothed them with grace for the way they should go.”

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). The saints, through their purity of heart, have seen God, and now they enjoy His presence for all eternity. As we commemorate their lives today, we strive to purify our own hearts, to seek God with sincerity and dedication, and to live in a way that reflects the teachings of Jesus.

We may not all be called to perform miracles or to endure martyrdom, but we are all called to be saints in our own way. We are called to be the best versions of ourselves, to love and serve God and our neighbours, and to strive for holiness in the ordinary moments of our lives.

 In conclusion, the Feast of All Saints reminds us that  we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us, showing us the way. We follow their example, persevere in our faith, and strive to be the saints God has called us to be. In doing so, we too will one day join that great communion of saints in the presence of our Lord.

“In our day of thanksgiving one psalm let us offer
for the saints who before us have found their reward;
when the shadow of death fell upon them, we sorrowed,
but now we rejoice that they rest in the Lord.”

 Author: William H. Draper (1916)