Father Bill says...for All Saints Day, November 1st

All Saints Day, November 1st

Saints - saints are an important part of the Catholic culture - we remember those who have gone on before us - they are our examples - and witnesses - to the hope of new life, Resurrection - after life. Each of us have our favorite saints - stories that mean so much to us - that remind us that we have the opportunity to make a difference in our world - basically, it says - if they can do it - so can I. The Catholic Church has a process to look into the life of a holy person - and decide - and declare that person a saint by a very wonderful ceremony called canonization - and the list of canonized saints grows every year - many are well known - some not so well known. Just a week ago - Brother Andre of Montreal was declared a Saint - St. Brother Andre - and then there is Saint Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, Italy - some of course are still on the way to being canonized - so Pope John XXIII is Blessed - the next step will be to be canonized and be declared a saint.

Now - there are many, many canonized saints - but not all saints have been canonized - there are many, many people with the Lord - who never go through the process and reach the stage of being declared a saint - and yet, they are truly saints - among them are our special saints - saints of our family - saints from among our friends - those special people who have been truly examples and witnesses for us - and have shown us the way to live and make our lives all they should be and have convinced us that our lives are worth while - and we are loved and important - so we should never give up on our road to sainthood.

One more thing to add to all of this - the stories of the saints - the canonized ones and the others - is that they achieved a good and holy life by being really good people - many, if not all, had their sins and failings but they never gave up - they had the faith and strength of will to get up and keep trying - they trusted the forgiving power of God - and kept on going.

So who do I think of today - among my saints - well, there is my mother, of course - then my friend, Father Bernard - who touched so many lives with his challenging talks and delightful wit - despite his failings - he never got down on himself - he kept on trying - and of course, my friend, Father Tim - who was truly a friend - some one I often needed to perk up my day - and to lift my spirit when I began to doubt.

So thank you, Lord - for such great saints - saints who were my friends - may I never forget them - so that I continue to realize my own goodness - that I may continue to walk on the way of following all the saints.