November 1, 2009: Feast of All Saints

Let us remember to pray for the All Saints who lived rightly and All Souls who have died.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3-10)

I think you recognize this Scripture passage from St. Matthew’s Gospel, from a section called the Sermon on the Mount (Chapters 5-7). We call these the Beatitudes, or as some people call them, the “be” attitudes. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus was teaching the people who followed him, and he teaches us through the sacred Scriptures, how to live rightly.
Every year on November 1st we celebrate the Feast of All Saints. We believe they are with God because they lived rightly. Tomorrow, on the Feast of All Souls, we remember in a special way and pray for all who have died.

Action:

Pray often for those who have died. Remember that we are all called to be saints. Saint Mother Theodore Guerin asked, “What have we to do to become saints?” She replied, “Nothing extraordinary, nothing more than we do every day; only do it all for love of God, uniting our actions, however insignificant they may be, to those of our divine Lord.”