1st November 2008 - All Saints
One of the aspects of the long Papacy of John Paul II was the amount of saints he created, many more than all his predecessors put together. Some people say that he created too many, some of whom were raised to the honours of the Altar very soon after their death. However, it is also true to say that the late Pope brought Sainthood down from the lofty clouds of legalism and presented it as an option for ordinary people. So what exactly is a saint? Perhaps it is easier to say what a saint is not. A saint is not someone who has never failed, or someone who floated a few feet off the ground during their lives. A saint is not someone who always had a look of total serenity, or who was always in possession of a glowing halo. A saint is not someone who was immune to the challenges of the Christian life.
With today's feast, we celebrate the memory of the men and women throughout time who fell in love with God, and who allowed the light of God to shine through them. Many of these were members of religious orders, but not all. Some were married, some were very young, but the cord that links them together is that they were not afraid to get up after they fell away from God's grace. Every saint has a past; every sinner a future is a good way of looking at those who followed the gospel. In proclaiming a person a Saint, the Church on earth is stating that the particular person because of their fidelity to the gospel is enjoying heavenly glory. Their example is worthy to be imitated. However, there are also people who we know ourselves who may well be saints, people who we have known and who have lived very holy lives. It does not really matter whether or not their picture hangs from a tapestry in St Peter's Square. God knows who they are and all they have done.
Therefore, it is a real possibility that we ourselves can be saints in the making. Holiness is open to each one of us, as it was to those whose memory we come together to honour today. Mary is the greatest of all the Saints, may her prayer for us help us as we journey towards the Heavenly Jerusalem which is our true home. Amen.
|
 |
Homilies Archive
2009 HOMILIES
25th December 2008
Christmas
21st December 2008
14th December 2008
8th December 2008
Immaculate Conception
7th December 2008
2nd Sunday of Advent
30th November 2008
1st Sunday of Advent
23rd November 2008
Christ the King
16th November 2008
2nd November 2008
All Souls
1st November 2008
All Saints
26th October 2008
12th October 2008
5th October 2008
28th September 2008
21st September 2008
14th September 2008
7th September 2008
31st August 2008
24th August 2008
17th August 2008
15th August 2008
Assumption
10th August 2008
3rd August 2008
20th July 2008
13th July 2008
29th June 2008
22nd June 2008
1st June 2008
23rd March 2008
Easter Sunday
22nd March 2008
Easter Vigil
2nd March 2008
24th February 2008
17th February 2008
10th February 2008
|
