THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS, November 1, 2020
(Revelation
7: 2-4.9-14; I John 3: 1-3; Matthew 5: 1-12)
Twelve
years ago, an American writer published an essay about his relative, an Italian
priest. The author was almost ecstatic that his grandfather's cousin was named
as a saint of the Church. He said that knowing that his cousin was a saint has
made him a better man. He credited Pope St. John Paul II with facilitating the
canonization of many saints like his cousin. In fact, this pope canonized more
people as saints than all of his predecessors combined.
Saint John
Paul II believed that the people need saints as models for their lives. He
recognized how the Second Vatican Council called all the faithful of the church
to holiness. Therefore, he exhorted people not to think of the saints as
"unusual heroes" of holiness. He said that there are many paths to
holiness so that every person can achieve it.
On today’s
feast we celebrate all the men and women who have passed through these roads at
the same time accessible and not much taken. We take into account canonized
saints like Saint Gaetano Catanoso, the Italian priest and cousin of the
American author. We also remember Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, a French
couple and parents of Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus. Although they are
canonized, we may not find their names on our parish calendars.
We also
celebrate today many saints that Rome not even knows. They are the people who
have walked their paths to holiness in relative obscurity. Possibly all of us
have known at least one person who if he was not helping others, was praying
for them. He may be the man who stopped by the parish every day to do the maintenance
without asking for anything in return. He was such a trustworthy person that
everyone from the pastor to the newest parishioners saw him as a friend. Or it
may be the judge who comes to the noon mass from his courtroom in which he is
known as a wise and just arbiter.
The
Beatitudes trace eight paths to holiness. They all have the undertone of
humility. The saint does not insist on having his way but always submits to the
will of God. The poor in spirit do not seek wealth or fame but look to God as
their reward. Those who hunger and thirst for justice do not plot to obtain
their well-being but rather strive to do what God expects of them. The pure in
heart have no other motive other than the desire to do God's will. To be holy
is to leave the race to be admired by others in order to give glory to God through
acts of love.
We like to
see children in costumes on Halloween, the vigil of All Saints' Day. Some wear
the clothes of a queen. Others dress like cowboys or Goldilocks. The lazy
appear may come as hobos. That’s all right too. All these characters and many others
besides are welcomed among the saints as long as they submit to the will of
God. Saints are those who have submitted to God’s will.
