In Touch with the Saints

During this month of November, we remember the saints and the faithful departed. Those already triumphant in heaven and those still suffering in purification are united with the militant faithful still journeying on earth. We all form one Church, the People of God, bonded in communion. The Communion of Saints is an article of our faith. Pope Benedict XVI tells us: “Indeed, the communion of Saints consists not only of the great men and women who went before us and whose names we know. All of us belong to the communion of Saints, we who have been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we who draw life from the gift of Christ’s Body and Blood, through which he transforms us and makes us like himself” (Homily, Apr. 24, 2005).

The saints in heaven had earned their place by living their lives on earth doing the will of God. They are “a great multitude: not only the saints and blesseds we honor during the liturgical year, but also the anonymous saints known only to him. Mothers and fathers of families, who in their daily devotion to their children made an effective contribution to the Church's growth and to the building of society; priests, sisters and lay people who, like candles lit before the altar of the Lord, were consumed in offering material and spiritual aid to their neighbor in need; men and women missionaries, who left everything to bring the Gospel message to every part of the world. And the list could go on” (Pope John Paul II, Homily, Nov. 1, 2000).

They are worthy of our emulation. Our community with the saints joins us to Christ, “the crown of all saints.” We are encouraged to follow the example of their life on earth, pray for their intercession and hope for eternal fellowship with them. (Cf Lumen Gentium, 50-51).

God wants us to be saints, too. “Holiness,” Pope John Paul II kept reminding us, “is the primary requirement of the Christian life” (Angelus, Nov. 1, 2003). “This is the will of God: your holiness” (1 Thes 4:3). Our Lord minces no words: Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect (Mt 5:48). Repent (Mt 4:17). Follow me (Mt 9:9). Take up your cross (Lk 9:23). Learn from me (Mt 11:29). For without me you can do nothing (Jn 15:5).

God calls everyone to sanctity following various paths. Some answer the vocation to priestly or religious life. But for the vast majority who live in the middle of the world, sanctity is to be lived in the day-to-day ordinary activities at home and in places of work. “To love God and to serve others, it is not necessary to do extraordinary things. To be a saint means sanctifying our work, sanctifying ourselves in our work and sanctifying others through all the circumstances of that work. In this way, we find God on all the pathways of our life (Conversations with Msgr. Escriva, 55). Ordinary human task done with holy intentions is thus converted to divine work.

Not to do so is to endanger our soul and even take us away from our communion with God. Where God is absent, the condition of hell is present. Some people go to all sacrifices to chisel their bodies to perfection, accumulate goods, and aspire for social honour and public prestige. They relegate to the backdoor the most important business of their soul. “Where are they, Dr This and Professor That, whom you used to hear so much about when they were alive, and at the height of their reputation? Alive, they counted for something; dead they are forgotten” (Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Bk I, Chapter 3, No. 4).

Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI urges us to have Christ always take first place in our thoughts and actions. “Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we live ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life (Homily at the Inauguration, Apr. 19, 2005).

We are a people on a continuous pilgrimage toward God. Our Church, in our Holy Father’s words, is a pilgrim fellowship of faith. Like the disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, we are all travelling in fellowship with Our Lord, growing in life with him in the Breaking of the Bread, and, if we remain faithful throughout, finally climbing to an eternal communion with him (The Church on the Threshold of the Third Millenium).

As we go on with our travel, we need to stay in touch with Christ, allow ourselves to be touched by him, and reach out to touch others by the witness of our struggle to live the Beatitudes. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God (Mt 5:8).