Dear friends,
Once again we celebrate All Saints’ Day on the 1st of November. The liturgy of the Church invites us to fix our gaze on heaven where there is “a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people and tongue” (Revelation 7:9). We call them saints. We know many of their names, but a greater number are not known. This is one reason why the Church provides a day in which we can honor all of the saints.
In reality, they have no need of our praise and honor. They already possess the fullness of life. When we remember them, it is for our sake. St. Bernard says, “Our saints have no need of our honors and they gain nothing from our commemoration…when I think of the saints, I feel enflamed by great desires."
The saints are our cheering squad. They pray for us and encourage us to go on with our journey towards heaven. They remind us that we are not alone in our struggles. They inspire us to live holy lives.
But how do we become saints? Oftentimes saints are portrayed as men and women who did extraordinary things. But people who could do extraordinary things are not too many, if not rare. Does it mean that only a few are destined to become saints? Not at all. St. Theresa of Calcutta says, “holiness is doing ordinary things extraordinarily…it is putting more love on what you do.” To be holy then is simply to love. With true love we cannot err. St. Augustine is confident enough to say “love and do anything you want.”
As we remember all the saints let us renew our hope in God. He will provide us all the necessary graces and means to grow in holiness. For sure, the saints will assists us through their prayers.
Fr. Jay Policarpio
Director
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