Thursday, November 28, 2019

Thanksgiving Homily

Today our nation celebrates Thanksgiving and we gather here this morning to celebrate the Mass. It is here that we come to encounter Christ who is present with us in the Eucharist. The word “Eucharist” actually comes from a Greek word which means “thanksgiving.” With that it becomes most fitting that we gather together in order to give thanks to God for the many blessings that we have received in this life.

I understand that some may lack family at this time of year. I understand that some may have to endure hardship which makes it difficult to give thanks. Nevertheless, we are able to look towards the cross and see all that the Lord has done for us. For from the cross we can see that God loves us so much that He gave up His only begotten Son. Despite my failures and sinfulness the Lord has done all this for me and so I give thanks.

In a matter of minutes I will take bread and wine into my hands and say the words of consecration. From these words will come about the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ our Lord. Let us remember the Israelites who had been freed from their enslavement in Egypt, who wondered about lost in the desert, and even dared to complain unto God that they were hungry. In time God poured out Heavenly food upon them from which they ate and gave thanks for what God had done for them. This Heavenly food encouraged them that despite their hardships that they must and can trudge onwards towards the Promised Land.

So too in the Eucharist we have so much to be thankful for. Each of us is on a journey towards a Heaven and along the way we will endure hardship like the Israelites. Nevertheless, let us receive our strength and hope from our encounter with Christ in the Eucharist. May each of you and your families have a blessed Thanksgiving and give thanks for all that God has done for you.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Bulletin Article: November 24

With this Sunday we come to our celebration of Christ the King. This celebration brings about the conclusion of our liturgical year. We now head into Advent where we prepare for the birth of Christ who is God made Flesh.

Our parish is always a busy place, but in Advent there will be a few extra activities that I would like you to be aware of. On December 2 we will celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of our parish church with Mass at 6pm, December 7 a parish Advent retreat will be held beginning at 9:30am, December 9 our parish will host the icon of Mary of Persecuted Christians with a prayer service at 6pm, December 10 our Advent penance service will be held at 7pm, December 12 Mass will be offered on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at 7pm, December 14 a Rorate Caeli Mass will be offered at 6:30am, and December 19 our school will hold a musical at 5:30pm.

Lastly, I want to give you advance notice that I am currently planning a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from October 5-14, 2020. More information on this pilgrimage will soon follow. There will be an informational meeting held January 14 at 6:30pm.

In Christ, 
Fr. Dustin Collins

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Last Sunday After Pentecost Homily

With this Mass we journey ever closer to the end of the liturgical year. When we gather next week we will arrive at the First Sunday of Advent and the start of a new liturgical year. The liturgical year is a cycle which has a beginning and an end. Nevertheless, when it comes to its conclusion it always begins anew.

This serves as a reminder of what goes on in the world around us. In the world we have many cycles which are continusely at play. We have the seasons which go from the warmth of summer to the cold of the winter. We are moving towards death and the Final Judgement. With each of these we do not simply pop out of existence, but life continues as is illustrated in this cycle.

There are some in this world who use prophesy to predict the end of the world. These many predictions have now come and gone and yet here we remain. What remains important for us is to remember that we know not the time nor the hour. If we realize this to be true we can place our attention on what is important and thus work on getting everything in order within this life. There are so many who act as if they are oblivious to the reality of death.

Our Gospel instructs that we shall see the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven and He will send out angels to gather His elect. This imagery reminds us of the harvest where crops are cut and collected from the fields. In this manner that which is found to be good and pleasing is taken while everything else is left behind. So too with death there will be judgement. The elect will be gathered together for they have been found worthy of Heaven while the rest will be cast into Hell. 

I hope that we come to place this imagery in our sight. We were created in the image and the likeness of God. God has taken on our human flesh out of love. He died upon the cross in forgiveness of our sins and sends forth the Holy Spirit to guide us in truth. Again there are many who never think of these life giving realities and thus they trudge about life chasing after false gods which will always leave them empty.

As we enter into the season of Advent next week may we keep all of this upon our mind. Fulton Sheen, who thanks be to God will be beatified on December 21st, stated that the saddest words every written were that there was no room for them in the inn. Therefore, as we enter into Advent may we come to make room in the inn of our heart for God made Flesh to come and dwell among us. If we are to do this we must cut away everything in this life which keeps us from this encounter.

Let us thus prepare for the many transitions that will take place in our life. Let us prepare for our movement into Advent and a new Church year. Let us prepare for our death and our encounter with God the Just Judge. It is towards Heaven that we must strive. May we come to do so with the assistance of all the angels and saints of Heaven and remain in the confines of the Church always.

Christ the King Homily

Adapted from homily given for Feast of Christ the King in the Extraordinary Form on October 27, 2019.

This Sunday marks the final Sunday of the liturgical year. When we gather together for the Holy Mass next Sunday we will begin the season of Advent and a new liturgical year. In the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite this final Sunday of the liturgical year is known as the Solemnity of Christ the King.

I have never met a king and this is probably true for just about all of you. If we were to ever meet a king it would be proper for us to genuflect in his presence. Thankfully each and every Sunday we do have this opportunity to encounter a King. This King whom we encounter is Christ our Lord. This is why we normally genuflect when we enter a Church. We genuflect for the one who is present with us within the Tabernacle is Christ our King. If the Tabernacle is not placed in its proper place and is thus hidden in some alternate location one should not genuflect for our Lord is not present.

Hopefully we allow nothing to take our sight away from this reality. It is to here that we should come to find our hope in the midst of any affliction that may befall us. Nevertheless, we are a society which has its news at its fingertips. There is nothing which is seemingly left for us to figure out on our own. So many allow themselves to get caught up with this endless revenue of information to the point that it becomes harmful for their soul. It becomes harmful because they forget about Christ. They take their sight off of Him and begin to worry about things which are out of their control. When we think about it there is nothing which we are ultimately in control of.

This is precisely why this Solemnity of Christ the King is so important for us. We must allow Christ to be the center of our life. We must allow Him to be the One who calms all of our fears. We must allow Him to be the one whom we go to as the source and summit of our life.

This Feast was instituted by Pope Pius XI in order to remind Christians of their allegiance to their spiritual ruler in heaven as opposed to earthly supremacy. As we chase after Christ we must remember that His Kingdom is not of this world and thus we should come to elevate our sight upwards towards Heaven.

It would seem that many have lost sight of this direction as they come to push to the side Christ in order to chase after the world. Again we must be reminded that Christ is our King. We should be willing to submit to this just ruler. We should submit here all of our fears and worries. We should not let them overcome us, but submit them to Him. We should not chase after endless avenues of pleasure, but instead realize that it is Christ for which our heart now longs.

As we come to celebrate this great Solemnity of Christ the King may we allow Christ to become the King and Ruler of our life. Let us submit to His Divine will and always be found willing to humble ourself in His midst.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Bulletin Article: November 17

Congratulations to our children who made their first confession this past weekend. I hope that this first experience with the sacrament of our Lord’s mercy will not be their last, but instead the first of many. I encourage all to make frequent use of the sacrament. Our parish confession schedule can be found in this bulletin.

Next weekend we will celebrate the final Sunday of the liturgical year, Christ the King. Following this Sunday we will be quickly plunged into the season of Advent. Please keep in mind that our parish Advent retreat will be December 7 and our parish Advent penance service will be held December 10.

Lastly, I encourage the youth of our parish to serve at Mass. We will have a training session for altar servers next Saturday, November 23, from 10:30am-11:30am.

In Christ,
Fr. Dustin Collins

Sunday, November 17, 2019

23rd Sunday After Pentecost Homily

We are instructed about a woman who had an issue of blood for a period of twelve years. According to Jewish purity laws this woman was to be separated from the community until this flow of blood stopped and she could be purified. Here we hear from the Book of Leviticus: “When a woman has a discharge, and the discharge in her body is blood, she shall be in her menstrual impurity for seven days.”

This woman in question had not put up this for a short period of time. She instead had to endure this trial for what had been 12 years. For this whole period of time she had been deemed to be unclean according to the Law.

With this in mind she makes a very profound action. She reaches out and touches the hem of the garment that Christ was wearing. Many would see no profound statement in this action. If one were a Jew they would see a profound statement here for the hem of this garment represents the Law.

For the Jew this fringe upon the garment is known as the tzitzit. Whenever the wearer of this garment walks these fringes hit them upon their legs and in doing so they are reminded of the Law of which they are to follow.

When this Jewish woman reaches out and grabs ahold of this hem she is pronouncing her faith in Christ. She grabs a hold of the very Law which had condemned her and through her faith in Christ healing is brought unto her. Through this healing she was able to return to the community for she had finally been healed.

I hope that we develop the faith of this woman found in our Gospel. She recognized the healing reality of Christ Jesus. Christ is the fulfillment of the prophets and the Law. Christ is that to which all of scripture is pointing towards.

In the midst of our own life there is a lot which overcomes us. We attempt to relieve this stress and these fears through many different avenues. May we realize in these moments that the one that we are in need of is Christ Jesus. This is the one to which our heart and soul now longs. What befalls us in this life may seem to be too much for us to handle, but that is not the case. If we have faith in Christ Jesus and come to embrace His Cross and Resurrection we to can see that this is the case.

Therefore, let us reach out with the confidence of faith this day and take hold of the garment of Christ with the confidence that Christ can and will bring healing to all the difficulties of our everyday life.

33rd Sunday of OT Year C Homily

The world has looked rather odd to me since we have changed our clocks. It seems to get so dark outside and yet it is so early. We have been plunged into a period of darkness. From the midst of this darkness I personally find myself longing for the light.

But from the Prophet Malachi we heard these words of hope: “But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.” Truly in the midst of darkness it is Christ for whom we now long.

This title “Sun of Justice” becomes an important title for Christ our Lord. This allegorical title shows that the period of time in which the world was waiting for the Messiah was a period of darkness. Thankfully now the sun begins to peak over the horizon and begins to slowly cast its light to the point that it will eventually illuminate the earth in its brilliance.

There is so much in this life that attempts to plunge us into a period of darkness. Sin and death exist and desire nothing more then to extinguish the Christian reality of hope. Through Christ our Lord and His trimphant Resurrection we have been lifted out of this reality and have been oriented towards this unending light.

An ancient sign of our Christian unity was to face together towards the east whenever we pray. The east becomes a sign of the Resurrection for it is from the east that the sun begins to rise. With this we must be willing to orient ourself towards the east for it is only here that we will come to encounter the light of Christ.

In his book “The Spirit of the Liturgy” Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger, instructs that where it becomes impossible for us to face together towards the east at Mass that it is important that a cross be placed upon the altar. He stated of it: “The idea that the priest and the people in prayer must look at one another reciprocally was born only in the modern age and is completely foreign to Christianity. In fact, the priest and the people do not address their prayer to one another, but together they address it to the one Lord.”

In looking upon this cross may we remember that all that we do here as priest or lay faithful is directed unto the Lord. What takes place here at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not the work of man, but it is the work of God. Upon our lips it should be known “Conversi ad Dominum” “Let us turn toward the Lord; let us convert to the Lord.”

Indeed the darkness seems to prevail, but towards the Lord we now look with Christian hope. From the Lord this “Sun of Justice” will illuminate this darkness. Are we willing to place our trust here? Are we willing to turn our gaze towards this direction?

Conversi ad Dominum. Let us turn toward the Lord; let us convert to the Lord.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Bulletin Article: November 10

Our principal or myself are always more then happy to speak with your family concerning our parish school. We would love to have your child in our school.

Over the course of the next few weeks you will see the school raffle tickets on sale. I encourage you to support this fundraiser which will go to support our school as well as the other schools in our diocese. From the last update that I had received Saint Mary School in Oak Ridge was in first place. I know that we can give them a run for their money. Also, as Christmas quickly approaches these make great stocking stuffers.

This can be purchased in the back of the church or at either the school or parish office.

In Christ,
Fr. Dustin Collins

Sunday, November 10, 2019

22nd Sunday After Pentecost Homily

Our Gospel gives us the framework for how we are to think about religion and the state to this day. In this passage Christ exclaims: “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”

Here Caesar retains the right to rule, but he must do so with God placed in his sight. Caesar therefore must follow divine law in a spirit of obedience. This same spirit of obedience to God’s law is to be followed by all governments and by all people of God.

We live in a world that is highly influenced by the spirit of relativism. Relativism is to go so far that one states that truth differs from individual to individual. It is true that there may be many different valid ways in which one can rule and govern, but at the end of the day we cannot allow these to overshadow the truths that have been revealed to us by God.

As Americans we must remember that one political party does not have all the answers. If I were to preach on the sanctity of human life some would accuse me of being a Republican. If I were to preach on the importance of taking care of the environment I would be accused of being a Democrat. Our Catholic faith does not perfectly fit into a political party, but instead informs us of the truths of the Gospel message that must be brought into the world and lived.

In America we enjoy the concept of the separation of Church and state. Despite this separation we must understand that our Catholic faith cannot be separated from our public witness, our political choices, and our political actions. We cannot profess to be Catholic from within the pew and then head back into the world to live as if we have encountered nothing here.

To live out the fullness of the Gospel message can be difficult at times, but the more that we conform ourself to the cross of our Blessed Lord the more possible that it becomes. We cannot allow ourself to live in fear of what will come of us if we hold firm to these truths contained here for our Blessed Lord will take care of us.

Increasingly the world seems to be moving away from these Divine Commands. Sadly, many Catholics seem to overlook these commands at the sake of tolerance. With this attitude we see the breakdown of marriage within society. We have overlooked the human person for the sake of convenience and thus promote abortion. We have looked the other way when it comes to marriage being between a male and a female to the detriment of these individuals with same sex attraction.

For us in the pews we must continue to pray for all governments throughout the world, we must pray for our elected officials, and we must be willing to take up our Catholic faith in the midst of a world that does not understand or accept divine law at times. We must become true witnesses of the Gospel message who do not compromise on Christ in the way in which they live our life, but instead be so convinced of this reality that we draw others to come to Christ and the Church.

32nd Sunday of OT Year C Homily

This morning we come to celebrate this Green Mass where we pray in a special way for those who have or are currently serving our nation in the military. Tomorrow our nation comes to celebrate Veterans Day where we come to honor those who have served our nation. Veterans Day also falls on the Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours who is the patron saint of soldiers. May Saint Martin of Tours pray for each of you that you may always be kept safe and continue to follow after God above all things.

Saint Martin of Tours gives this example by the way in which he lived his life on this earth. Saint Martin was required to join the cavalry at age 15. Eventually Saint Martin underwent his conversion from chasing after the ways of the world through his following of Caesar Julian in order to follow after the ways of Christ. As he is quoted: “I am the soldier of Christ: it is not lawful for me to fight.”

Therefore, we can see that Saint Martin of Tours knew where it was that he was headed within this life. For many of us we forget about where we are headed. When we lack a goal for which we are to work it is easy to get caught up in many practices along the way which are harmful. From our first reading we see that there were those who were so convinced of where they where headed that they would not break the Jewish dietary laws even when it meant that they would be put to death. If they had allowed themselves to give in to something like this then they would also compromise on everything.

As Christians we cannot walk down the buffet line and pick what we want to follow and don’t. The Church in her teachings is to accept the totality of what Christ taught and handed down to His apostles. It is like having the whole pie instead of simply taking a slice. Some of these teachings may be difficult for us to wrestle with, but that does not mean that we are to dismiss them because they are tough. In John 6:66 those present had everything before them in the form of Christ Jesus and yet we are told, “many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.”

Instead of simply living for the here and the now we should look towards where we are headed especially if we are to find any inspiration when the road that has been set before us begins to get difficult. With this our Gospel passage comes to set our attention upon the Beatific Vision. As the Catechism defines it: “Those who die in God’s grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live for ever with Christ. They are like God for ever, for they see him as he is; face to face.” As was stated in our Gosep: “he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

We cannot enter into this friendship if we want nothing to do with Christ because we have placed the ways of the world before Him. We cannot enter into this friendship if we are willing to look past Church teachings in order to feel comfortable. Instead let us come to chase after this friendship with the assurance of faith in order that our life may come to rotate around Christ Jesus and from this relationship may we be willing to be sent forth to proclaim and live out that Gospel to all those whom we encounter.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

St. Mary Men Evening of Recollection Sermon III: Silence

Something that many of us are uncomfortable with is silence. Nevertheless, silence is something which is very important for us to take advantage of. Saint Josemaria Escriva stated: “Silence is the door-keeper of the interior life.”

If we need a model of silence we have no further to look then Saint Jospeh. Throughout the course of Sacred Scripture he never uttered a word and was usually found asleep where God would come and speak with him.

Again from Saint Josemaria Escriva: “A change! You say you need a change!... opening your eyes wide so as to take in better the images of things, or almost closing them because you are short-sighted. Close them altogether! Have interior life, and you will see, in undreamt-of colour and relief, the wonders of a better world, of a new world: and you will draw close to God..., and know your weakness..., and be deified... with a deification which, by bringing you nearer to your Father, will make you more a brother of your fellow-men.”

It is the noise of this world which keeps us from the interior life. Our phone is always beeping and giving us updates, the TV is on producing noise even if we are not even paying attention to it, truly to be forced to enter into silence can be something which proves to be most challangening for us.

When we are forced to enter into silence we do not know what to do with it. Even here today we have the opportunity to pray before our Lord who is present with us in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Here we will plunged into silence. It is important that we make use of this silence and throughout our life find ways to retreat from the noise of the world in order to enter into prayer.

For more reflection upon the importance of silence I recommend the book “The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise” by Cardinal Sarah. In it he states: “When we retreat from the noise of the world in silence, we gain a new perspective on the noise of the world. To retreat into silence is to come to know ourselves, to know our dignity.”

Let us thus be willing to undergo moments of silence throughout our life. Moments where we step away from our phones or the TV. Moments where we sit in the silence of the church instead of filling it with noise. Moments spent in prayer in our Perpetual Adoration Chapel. Truly through these periods of silence we will inter into the interior life. We must realize that to enter into the interior life is a life long process that cannot be acheived in a day.

As Saint Josemaria Escriva put it: “Conversion is a matter of a moment. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime.”

Monday, November 4, 2019

Bulletin Article: November 3

I thank all those who have or are serving our country in the armed forces. As a Church we continue to pray for you and all that you do to serve our country. Next Sunday, November 10, we will hold the Green Mass for all veterans at the 10am Mass.

Throughout the month of November we are reminded of the certainty of death. Some saints would even go as far as to keep a skull upon their desk to remind of this inescapable reality. In our gathering area we currently have many photos of loved ones who have now gone before us into life eternal. It is my hope that we will continue to pray and offer our sacrifices for them.

As we continue to move towards the end of the liturgical season we will quickly find ourself in the Advent season. Very soon you will start to find information on various liturgies throughout Advent, but I would like to make the parish aware of our parish Advent retreat which has been scheduled for December 7 and will be led by me. This will begin shortly following our 8:30am Mass and conclude around lunch time. More information on this retreat will be given in the future.

In Christ,
Fr. Dustin Collins

Sunday, November 3, 2019

21st Sunday After Pentecost Homily

If we are to stand against the deceits of the devil we are in need of “veritas.” “Veritas” is the motto of the Dominican Order and in English means “truth.”

In Saint Paul’s Epistle we are told that we will wrestle against: “principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places.”

In all of these examples that Saint Paul gives to us we can see the many lies which attack us with the hope that we may come to hold them as truth. We must remember that one of the many names given to the devil is the “father of lies.” Indeed, the devil is unable to create truth and so he instead twists it in order to meet his lies.

In our world I can think of many ways in which the devil attempts to twist the truth in order to confuse us on our journey towards Heaven. Sins against the flesh is to take something which was created as good and to twist that truth until it no longer meets its God given purpose. The same can be said of all other sins which attack one of the virtues.

As is stated from 1st Peter: “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.”

Likewise, we must “stand against the desires of the devil.” He wants nothing more then to confuse us to the point to where we begin to lose faith. We stand in the midst of a confused generation where even priests and bishops have seemingly turned themselves against the truths of the Gospel. The answer to this serious issue is not to lose faith, but to endure within it. We must not allow the lies of the devil to push us away from the truths which are contained within the midst of the Church.

As Dominican order desires to pursue “veritas” the same should be said of each of us. To pursue truth in the midst of a confused world we need the four pillars of prayer, study, community, and ministry. These four pillars aid us to come to know and serve God in all things. To pray is to open wide our relationship with God in order that truth may be revealed unto us. To study is to allow our mind to be engaged to the point that we come to settle upon truth. To live community is to is to remain connected to God through one another and the Church in order that we may be moved towards truth. Lastly, through ministry we take the truth that we have learned and bring it out into the world for others to encounter.

In Conclusion these words from the Catechism concerning the Holy Spirt: “The Spirit of truth, the other Paraclete, will be given by the Father in answer to Jesus' prayer; he will be sent by the Father in Jesus' name; and Jesus will send him from the Father's side, since he comes from the Father. The Holy Spirit will come and we shall know him; he will be with us for ever; he will remain with us. The Spirit will teach us everything, remind us of all that Christ said to us and bear witness to him. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth and will glorify Christ. He will prove the world wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment.”

May the Holy Spirit come and enlighten our heart towards all truth.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

All Souls Day Homily

We are uncomfortable with the one thing that we cannot escape, death.

Nevertheless, death is the only avenue which leads towards Everlasting Life. In all reality death is something that we should not fear, but rejoice for. Despite this reality it can be hard to trust in the Lord at one’s final hour and it can be difficult to find that healing that we are in need of when we mourn the loss of a loved one.

Upon this earth we are only given so much time. When we think about it this time which has been given to us is short. How much of this time do we spend preparing for our death? It was not uncommon for individuals to keep skulls upon their desk to remind them of this eventual fate. This fate is something that we too must set our sight upon and thus prepare ourself for its grasp.

We prepare ourself for this eventual grasp of death by striving for Heaven each day. We can only do this with the help of the Lord and the Church. It is not enough to stumble our way into Heaven, but we should instead strive for it.

All Souls Day is an important day in the life of the Church because through it we are reminded of those who have now been called home to God, but must first be purged. These are the souls in Purgatory and we must continue to pray and offer sacrifice for them. At so many funeral liturgies we are told that our loved ones are now in Heaven and we have nothing to fear. This short changes these souls out of our prayers. We must remember to pray for them and sacrifice for them. Even if they are now in Heaven our prayers will not be wasted, but will go to those who are in need.

May we continue to pray for these souls and strive to go where they are now headed.

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Friday, November 1, 2019

All Saints Homily

The Church manifests itself in three realities all held together by one common goal. In the Holy Mass the priest breaks the host into three pieces. These three pieces represent to us the unity of these three realities which make up the Church. 

Firstly, we have the church militant which is made up of each of us here on earth who must strive towards Heaven. Secondly, we have the church suffering who we will pay special attention towards tomorrow. Lastly, we have the church triumphant. The church triumphant is those members of the church who have died and are regarded as enjoying eternal happiness through union with God.

As we come to celebrate this Solemnity of All Saints our focus turns towards this last group. Nevertheless, through the course of time we know that the souls of the faithful departed will become saints. Finally, I hope that we see that we too here on this earth are called to strive to be numbered among the saints.

The saints are those who have been revealed by God to the Church by name, but are also those who have been called home to Heaven that we do not know by name through this revelation from God to the Church. That means that we probably do not have a canonized saint in our family, but that does not mean that a loved one who has gone before us into life eternal has not already reached their Heavenly homeland.

Of those saints who we now know by name we can study their life and see how it leads towards the common goal of union with God. Through the saints we see heroic lives of men, women, the young, the old, rich and poor, single, married, priests, deacons, bishops, popes, but most importantly fallen humans who have overcome sin and death to be called home to Heaven.

We should study the lives of these holy men and women and ask them to pray for us. We study the lives of actors, musicians, politicians, and athletes, but do not flinch an eye at the thought of these holy men and women. We fashion our style and choices after those of these celebrities, but do not allow the saints to form us into true disciples of the Lord who chase after virtue rather then the ways of the world.

Each and every one of us have been invited to be numbered among the saints, but do we desire to be numbered among them? Let us remember that to be a saint is to be in Heaven with God the Father for all eternity. If we are not a saint we have been cast out from Heaven and are in Hell. Surely, none of us want such a horrific demise. 

Therefore, come to emulate the lives of the saints. Foster within your life proper devotion to the saints. Frequent the sacrament of confession and worthily receive our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion. As the church militant we must strive for Heaven. The battle may be difficult at times, but the saints show us that it is possible.

All you Holy Saints of God, pray for us.