In the Apostles’ Creed we assert that we believe in “the communion of saints…” The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us: “We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints are always attentive to our prayers.” (No. 962)

Having just celebrated the feasts of “All Saints” on Nov. 1 and of “All Souls” on Nov. 2, it would be useful to recall that the Second Vatican Council teaches that “all in the Church…are called to holiness.” The Church itself is holy “because Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and the Spirit is hailed as ‘alone holy,’ loved the Church as his Bride, giving himself up for her so as to sanctify her; he joined her to himself as his body and endowed her with the gift of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God.” (“Lumen Gentium,” No. 39)

This holiness derives from Christ, not us. And, “this holiness of the Church is constantly shown forth in fruits of grace which the Spirit produces in the faithful…” Credit for the good results goes to God, because we ourselves have obvious faults and sins.

We are all wayfarers and the Church itself is a “pilgrim Church.” “The promised and hoped for restoration has already begun in Christ” but the Church “will receive its perfection only in the glory of heaven…The pilgrim Church carries the mark of this world which will pass, and she herself takes her place among the creatures who groan and travail yet and await the revelation of the children of God.” (LG, No. 48)

“All Saints” day celebrates the “little saints,” those not canonized, whose holiness, mainly, was known to God alone. They were “ordinary” Christians who were busy about their lives and professions, struggled to maintain and live their faith in a world of pagan values and secular patterns. Most would have been lay people, married and doing their best to raise their families and create a sense of the “domestic church,” in which “the father, the mother, children and all members of the family exercise the ‘priesthood of the baptized’ in a special way by the reception of the Sacraments, prayer and thanksgiving, the witness of a holy life, self-denial and active charity,” (LG, No.10)

These ordinary people became saints by offering the “nitty gritty” of their lives to the Lord: “for all their works, prayers and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work…indeed even the hardships of life if patiently borne — all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (LG, No. 34)

The saints — both ordinary and canonized — assist us in several ways. “Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness, add to the nobility of the worship that the Church offers to God here on earth, and in many ways help in a broader building up of the Church.” Through Christ “they do not cease to intercede with the Father for us…” (LG, No. 49)

In addition, “to look on the life of those who have faithfully followed Christ is to be inspired with new reasons for seeking the city which is to come, while at the same time we are taught to know a most safe path” to “perfect union with Christ, that is, holiness.” (LG, No. 50)

“Our community with the saints joins us to Christ, from whom as from its fountain and head issues all grace and the life of the People of God itself. It is most fitting, therefore, that we love those friends and co-heirs of Jesus Christ who are also our brothers and sisters and outstanding benefactors.” (LG, No. 50)

Hopefully, the saints can motivate us all to keep our sights on heaven, to keep believing that our mighty Savior can get us there if we keep coming to Him. In spite of our defects and earthliness, in Baptism we have been born again of God. Christ has grasped us, redeemed us. We have been made sons and daughters of God. Sin does not define us. The “saint” is growing in us and we are destined for the glory of God. Our hearts long for God and will not be satisfied until we “see Him face to face.” In hope, we continue on our way.

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