When the Saints Go Marching In
By Fr. John Roderick, F.S.C.B.
November, 2023
Recently I had the privilege of witnessing the students of Nativity: Faith and Reason and of our faith formation program dress up as saints for the annual All Saints’ celebration. In preparation for the great feast, the students learn about the lives of the saints and were encouraged to choose the life of one saint and to discover their unique friendship with Jesus. Then on All Saints’ Day, they parade through the parish office hoping to receive candy from the staff and priests. I was deeply moved by the quality of costumes and the selection of saints. There were a few apostles, Saints Francis and Domenic, Saints Claire and Thérèse of Lisieux, as well as more contemporary saints like Saints Maximilian Kolbe, Mother Theresa, John Paul II, and Blessed Carlo Acutis. When I saw the joy on the kids' faces, I wanted to join the parade with them!
My young friends helped me to live this day with increased awareness of the mystery of friendship and personal belonging to what the Church calls the “communion of saints.” In this article, I would like to reflect on this special communion to help us to live All Saints’ Day with a greater awareness.
What is the communion of saints? St. Paul helps us to understand this important mystery when he writes: “You are no longer strangers or sojourners but are fellow citizens of the holy ones, and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). Jesus’ plan for the Church is that it become a “communion of saints” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 946). Who belongs to it? It is made up of all the people who have been baptized into communion with Jesus Christ. In baptism, we become part of God’s amazing family, and our true home is the Church. All the saints that ever lived become our brothers and sisters. The Church teaches that this communion is made of friends in three different stages: 1) Those friends of Christ who are already experiencing the fullness of glory with Him in Heaven, 2) Those friends who have died and are still in need of being purified and prepared for heaven in Purgatory, and 3) Those friends who are still pilgrims on earth. The Church invites us to not merely cherish the memory of the saints that lived in the past but look to them as our living companions and fellow disciples (no. 957). What a gift to discover that we belong to such a great family!
Who are the saints? The saints are above all the friends of Jesus. The saints are those who let themselves be defined by God’s infinite love and nothing else. They are holy! Holiness means living life as a school of love of God and of neighbor. God wants us to cultivate the seed of His divine life in us and so it can inform every area of our lives. Everyone is called to become a saint. Holiness is not just for priests and consecrated people but is for everyone. It does not mean being perfect and not sinning but above all accepting with humility one’s personal failings and sins and always turning to the Father’s merciful embrace. Benedict XVI described the saints as the “best exegesis” of Jesus. In other words, in the lives of the saints the Gospel message of Jesus becomes incarnate. They are the face of God in the world. They are the living proof of God’s continual light and presence in the darkness of the world.
How do we become saints? Benedict XVI once answered this question: “To be a saint requires neither extraordinary actions or words nor the possession of exceptional charisms, but first to listen to Jesus and follow Him without losing heart when faced with difficulties.” He added that to become a saint one must learn to trust and love Jesus sincerely and accept dying to him or herself. Every form of Christian holiness passes through the Way of the Cross. Jesus made this clear invitation to His friends: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). To be a saint one must commit to follow Jesus’ way of loving through the gift of love and service to God and neighbor. For this reason, becoming a saint is the primary goal and task of every Christian.
Praying with the Saints. St. Paul writes in his letter to the Hebrews: “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us” (12:1). Since the saints are our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ it is important to get to know and love them. Just like in any family where the older siblings take the younger ones under their wings, the saints want to be a guide, to watch over and protect us from evil. They have all overcome great difficulties in their lives and their witness helps us to do the same. The lives of the saints reveal the need to commit to training in the spiritual life. A beautiful practice we have in our tradition is the Litany of Saints. When we invoke the intercession of the saints, we find refuge under their protection. It is like running to our older siblings when we get into difficulties or need help.
As we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, let us personally respond to the Church’s invitation to join the company of the saints who march joyfully and triumphantly towards the Father’s house. I would like to invite you to discover the fascinating world of the saints and find a few saint friends to accompany you on your personal faith journey. Let us place ourselves every day at the school of the saints to learn from them the adventure of learning how to love.
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Photo: Children dressed as saints at the Nativity of Our Lord “Saints Parade” organized by the Religious Education (RE) department on the occasion of the Solemnity of All Saints, November 2023
