One of the blessings of being Catholic is to know we are part of large extended family. We call it the Communion of saints, that is to say, the Church. It lives glorious in heaven, it strives here on earth and it lives in expectation of heaven in Purgatory. We become part of this great family through Baptism. Last month I presided at a Confirmation at St. Thomas More Parish, Manalapan. Three altar servers greeted me—two girls and a boy. The boy introduced me to the girl next to him, “This is my sister.” I looked to the other girl and asked, “Is she also your sister?” He replied, “Well yes, she is my sibling in faith.” What a beautiful response. He had a good understanding of his Baptism!
Today the Church gathers that we might honor our brothers and sisters, our “siblings in faith” who are in heaven—the Saints—and not only those canonized by the Church but all who are in the glory of heaven. It is a feast that reminds us that we are never alone. The Saints are our companions who inspire us to live good and virtuous lives. They are role models who show us that it is possible to live out the Gospel in every time, place and circumstance.
Today’s feast reminds us that the Saints are our intercessors. Just as we would ask our friends to pray for our needs and intentions, we can go to the saints who go the Lord on our behalf. We can go to our baptismal and confirmation patrons, the patrons of our parishes, the patrons of our vocations and those saints who take up certain “cases.”
All Saints Day also reminds us that we are called to be saints. Baptism is a call to holiness of life. And we might think how that is possible. But we must remember that the saints were not perfect. They were very human. They struggled with their weaknesses, faults and sins as we do. St. John Vianney said, “The saints did not begin well but they ended well.”
I once met an old priest who told me that many years before, he met two religious who lived with St. Frances Cabrini—He said to them: “What an honor to have lived alongside a saint! What was Mother Cabrini like?” They replied, “Eh!”
Today let us rejoice in our great family. Today let us renew our devotion to the saints. Let us resolve to read their lives and seek their help. Let us strive to be Saints—for in the words of Leon Bloy, “The only real sadness, the only real failure, the only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint.”
