Reflection: All Saints Day

Today we honor all the saints. A saint is a person who reflects the holiness of God by living the virtues in a heroic way and showing boundless love and total faith in God. A saint is a model and example for us to follow.

The Church's calendar contains many saint's days, which Catholics observe at Mass, some with special festivities, but there were thousands and thousands of early Christian martyrs, whose names are known only to God. Throughout the history of the Church, there have been countless others who are saints, who are with God in heaven, but have not been canonized saints. They are the Communion of Saints and they continually intercede for us to the Father. In order to honor the memory of these unnamed saints and to recall their example, the Church dedicated to the saints, a special Feast Day Mass, All Saints Day, to celebrate the lives and witness of those who have died and gone before us into the Presence of the Lord.

The saints are our friends. If you are named after a saint, that saint is your patron, who you can call upon in your need, just as a special friend. If you do not have the name of a saint, choose a saint whose life inspires you and ask that saint to be your patron. Read the lives of the saints. Many had great sufferings but they endured them with faith, hope and love. They kept their eyes fixed on Jesus. They teach us how to do the same. They can help us carry our crosses. Saints walk with us on the journey of our lives and they are ready to intercede for us when we ask. You may feel close to a number of saints, "a great a cloud of witnesses." You have many friends in heaven. Call upon them.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, all the Angels and the Communion of Saints, we call upon you as a great cloud of witnesses to help us each day and to pray for us and all those we pray for.