The Gift of All Saints' Day

“O God, by Whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints …”

Happy feast day! The collect for Holy Mass on this great Solemnity of All Saints (quoted above) is a beautiful reminder of what a privilege it is to be a part of the Communion of Saints. Often we come to the Saints asking for their intercession for a particular need, or studying their example of virtue to emulate in our own lives. But today, Holy Mother Church reminds us of another aspect of devotion to the Saints: simply rejoicing in their Heavenly glory! She reminds us that it is truly a gift of God that “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,” a gift to be able to look to these elder brothers and sisters who have finished the race that we are now running.

And let’s not forget — All Saints’ Day isn’t just about those who are canonized or beatified. It is a day to rejoice in the entire Church Triumphant. This is a day dedicated to all those who have reached eternal happiness in Heaven! There are countless holy men and women who have not been raised to the glory of the altar, but who are nonetheless exulting in the Beatific Vision. We may not know them, but they know us and are praying for us. What a joy it will be to meet them someday in Heaven!