Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints.
For some the saints may seem to be a foreign entity which is held far away from us. Through this mindset they are kept at a distance and not seen as something that we should strive to be. The saints are not simple legends of individuals which teach us a nice lesson about morality nor are they dead and thus of no assistance to us.
The saints are those who have now been called home to Heaven. There are the saints whose names have been revealed to us by God through the Church and there are those saints now called home to God whose names we do not know. The saints were real individuals who lived a life of sanctity and thus died in the state of grace and were judged as worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Saints serve as intercessors for us. We do not pray to them as if they are God, but ask them to pray to God on our behalf. We must remember that they are now with God in Heaven and thus through the beatific vision to which they have been joined are able to hear our prayers. Unlike those whom we know in this life they are now with God and their prayers are very important.
The saints serve as models of holiness for us. Our culture has lifted up many models for us through music, television, movies, and sports. Through these glimpses we are not always afforded an image of what it means to be a Christian and thus a servant of the Lord. The saints give us such a glimpse for their lives ended up being lived for the Lord. Instead of exalting celebrities we should look towards the saints in order that we may come to model our life in similar fashion.
We too are called to be saints. This means that we are called to strive for the Kingdom of Heaven above all things. The saints are real for if they were not there we be no one in Heaven including us once our time on this earth expires. Through our devotion to these holy men, women, and angels may we persevere in running the race to Heaven. Let us “rejoice and be glad, for (our) reward will be great in heaven.”
All you holy saints of God, pray for us.
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