The Solemnity of All Saints

My Dear Parishioners,

Today’s Solemnity of All Saints replaces the observance of the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time. Each year on November 1st the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints. This is the day on which we honor all those, both known and unknown, who had lived their lives in conformity to the Gospel. Their ranks include Old Testament and New Testament personages. Among the New Testament Saints are the Apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, doctors, widows and others who are recognized by the Church as living virtuous lives. These holy ones, glorified by the Church, are our friends in Heaven. The saints intercede for us before the throne of our Savior. They are our brothers and sisters whom we hope to join one day in the Heavenly Jerusalem.

Reading the lives of the saints has always been an inspiration for Christian people. To become acquainted with the saints encourages us to emulate them. We can draw strength and wisdom from familiarizing ourselves with their struggles and challenges. We gain hope and confidence that like them we too can be victorious in living for Christ. I have always enjoyed reading about the lives of the saints and I attribute that to my Catholic school upbringing. My parents were not wealthy and they struggled to send me and my two brothers to Catholic school. At school the nuns would always tell us about the saints and encouraged us to read about their lives. The sisters’ faith and enthusiasm is what opened the door to heaven for me. Getting to know the saints is what I commend to you on this weekend. Their lives will surprise you and inspire you.

We encourage our high school students who are preparing for the sacrament of confirmation to research the saints whose name they will take when confirmed. The saints are the heroes of the Church. When many in our society look to sports figures or media personalities as heroes, the Church’s saints cannot be outdone. These glorified men, women and children surround the throne of Christ our Savior and are the examples for both young and old alike. I invite you to attend the presentation I give once a month at our Thursday evening FAITH FORMATION GATHERING (7 pm Hayes Hall) entitled, “HOLY PEOPLE YOU PROBABLE NEVER HEARD OF.” This presentation is about the saints and those being proposed for canonization that are not well known, but have a wonderful life story to tell.

We call upon the saints throughout our lives and at the conclusion of our lives we ask them to come out and welcome us into the Heavenly Jerusalem. They are the ones who usher us into the presence of our Risen Lord. These just and righteous ones are our festival today – SAINTS OF GOD, PRAY FOR US!

God bless you!
Father Zig