ALL SAINTS (SOLEMNITY)

I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count.

Throughout its history, the Church has canonized more than ten thousand people. But for every canonized saint we know about, there are thousands more unknown saints who have never received that recognition. That’s why John’s vision today describes so many saints that they can’t be counted.

Today we celebrate all the saints, including these unnamed men and women—people who have quietly served and laid down their lives out of love for their brothers and sisters. You might even know someone you consider a saint because of their love and dedication to the Lord.

Why are there so many saints? Because God has made it possible. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, our Father has adopted us as his children (1 John 3:2). In Christ we now have access to all the grace we need to walk the path of holiness. So as we celebrate the saints today, let’s also celebrate the gift of grace we have all been given by a God whose love for us is unfailing.

Perhaps more than anything else, it’s a person’s faith in the power of God’s grace that makes him or her a saint. Holy men and women know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, how dependent on God they are. So they call on him each day, confident that they can do whatever God asks of them because he has already given them everything they need.

Because we are children of God, we can all become saints. Today, thank God for making it possible for you to grow in holiness. Then imitate the saints by asking him for the grace you need, whether for the day ahead or for a particular moment in time. Believe that God will swiftly answer your prayer, and then go ahead and do whatever he asks.

“Lord, help me to believe that with your grace, I can become a saint.”

Psalm 24:1-6
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12
Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14