Faith Education

All Saints Day

Next Wednesday is All Saints Day and although it is no longer seen as a holy day of obligation since 2001, it is a very important date on the Catholic Calendar.

Matthew 5:1-12  

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

‘How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage.

Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted.

Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.

Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.

Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.

Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.

Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Scriptural context – Kingdom Attitudes

Unlike the Ten Commandments, which describe the rules for life on earth for the ancient Jews, the Beatitudes describe the character or attitudes of people of the Kingdom of God. Like the many Kingdom parables that appear later in this gospel, the Beatitudes present an image of what the Kingdom is like without an explicit explanation of the Kingdom. By praising and honouring the attitudes of the Kingdom, Jesus paints a picture of what life could be and should be like if we choose to live in the Kingdom of God.

Living the Gospel – Calling on the Saints

Saints play an important role in the devotional life of many Catholic people, but it is a role that causes some confusion for other traditions. Whilst all prayer is directed to God, sometimes that prayer may be directed through one of the Saints or a Saint is called upon to pray on behalf of the petitioner. Images of people kneeling before statues of Saints has led to a misconception that Catholics pray to Saints, rather than to God through the Saint. The Litany of the Saints, with its ‘Pray for us’ response, calls on the Saints to intercede for us.

Have you thought? – Making Saints

Despite media reports that the Church, or the Pope, has ‘made’ a person a Saint, the Church is quite clear that what it does is recognise a person as a Saint, not make them a Saint. This is what happens through the process of canonisation; a person is ‘formally recognised’ as a Saint by the Church. We might say that it is God who makes Saints, not the Church. The Church formally recognises the saintliness of particular people partly to provide inspiration and example to others. The Church tells the stories of its Saints to keep alive their inspiration. (excerpt: www.liturgyhelp.com)

Kind regards, 

Mr Ru

rlameijn@tcs.catholic.edu.au