November 1st Fast, Feast of All Saints

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JMJ

"Calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company, so desirable in itself. We long to share in the citizenship of heaven, to dwell with the spirits of the blessed, to join the assembly of patriarchs, the ranks of the prophets, the council of apostles, the great host of martyrs, the noble company of confessors and the choir of virgins. In short, we long to be united in happiness with all the saints. But our dispositions change. The Church of all the first followers of Christ awaits us, but we do nothing about it. The saints want us to be with them, and we are indifferent. The souls of the just await us, and we ignore them.

Come, brothers, let us at length spur ourselves on. We must rise again with Christ, we must seek the world which is above and set our mind on the things of heaven. Let us long for those who are longing for us, hasten to those who are waiting for us, and ask those who look for our coming to intercede for us. We should not only want to be with the saints, we should also hope to possess their happiness. While we desire to be in their company, we must also earnestly seek to share in their glory. Do not imagine that there is anything harmful in such an ambition as this; there is no danger in setting our hearts on such glory."  (St. Bernard)

In the married or religious vocation, one may feel that he has given up so much already, sacrificed so willingly, that he clings all the more to some vice or weakness just for the sake of believing himself in possession of something that is his, even it is a weakness.  Perhaps one thinks, "I have given up all this for others; I have suffered such and such for others; can I just stop for a while, can I be content with saying no for once? How much more will He ask of me?"  And it is then, the one hears Him say," I ask you to do nothing more than what I did myself."

Sanctity is a struggle, an arduous battle that cannot be won in a day.  No one is born a saint, they must become one.  To believe that sanctity is genetic is to excuse one's refusal to fight harder.  St. Peter writes in his first letter: 

"Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is a prowling lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in the faith." (1 Peter 5:8-9a)

 How often it happens that through frustration and fatigue our former zeal slowly melts away.  When the goal of sainthood becomes a romantic notion rather than a reachable reality, one must turn to those who have gone before him.  The saints are there to encourage and not to condemn.  They ardently desire our company in their blessed state and earnestly seek to help us in any way they can.

If one is set to travel on an unfamiliar  road he usually seeks the counsel of another who has previously traveled the way before; he would be foolish to navigate it without any assistance.  In a similar way, one must turn to those who have faced similar struggles, triumphed over temptations, and successfully walked the narrow road to heaven.  The saints offer their friendship, their assistance and their love most willingly.  Let us truly cherish these kindred spirits, and strive to imitate their holy example.