Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints Day.
When an ordination Mass takes place, the one being ordained lies prostrate upon the ground. What is chanted as they do so is the Litany of Saints. When called to the bedside of someone who is dying one of the prayers for the dying is the Litany of Saints.
Through the Litany of Saints we are reminded of the vast number of those who are now in Heaven who are praying for us. When one undertakes their priestly ministry they are in need of these prayers. When one is journeying from this life to the life to come one is in need of these prayers. Nevertheless, there are so many who toil about life without giving the saints a thought.
The life of the saints are lives of triumph. They have been called home to the Kingdom of Heaven and have been found worthy of it. They have struggled with the allure of sin, but found Christ and His love for us to be greater. They struggled with sickness and sadness and yet they came to embrace Christ and allowed Him to be their light in the midst of all their struggles. Christ became their joy and there was nothing which could take this joy away from them.
In our society we can say so much concerning actors, musicians, and athletes, but so often fail to be stirred with the same joy when it pertains to the saints. I cannot say where actors, musicians, and athletes lead us, but I can say that the saints always, that is 100% of the time, lead us on a path towards God.
Let us come to foster devotion to the saints within our home and through this devotion may we come to desire to be like them. It should be the goal of every Christian to be a saint. If we are not numbered among the saints we will not inherit the Kingdom of God. We are not called to live a life of mediocrity, but rather a life of greatness- a life of holiness!
May all the angels and saints of Heaven, pray for us.
