Once a year, we get to honor all the Saints together with a big feast day, November 1, the Solemnity of All the Saints. This year is no different except that it falls on a Sunday, the Lord’s Day, thus adds a different flavor to the Solemnity with the Lord’s Day still as the central theme.
For me, the many different saints are the best examples of how to be another Jesus in the world we live. When I want to embrace Jesus in, with and for the poor, I have the wonderful example of St. Francis of Assisi and Mother Theresa of Calcutta.
As a priest and a preacher I have often prayed for a Gift of Tongue – many saints were given this kind of charism or gifts. To name a few, we have St. Anthony of Padua (d.1231), who, in a consistory before the Pope and the cardinals, and men coming from different countries was perfectly understood. His extra-ordinary eloquence, effectivity, and the clarity of his words and ideas amazed everyone. They said in amazement, “Is he not a Spaniard?” How come we are hearing him in our own native language – Greek, Latin, French, German, English and other foreign languages? This reminded them of the events at Pentecost during the time of the Apostles, “By the power of the Holy Spirit they spoke in different languages.” Added to the fact that remarkably, everyone listening to St. Anthony, even the simple minded and the ignorant could fully understand and comprehend everything he was saying.
Other noted saints with the Gift of Tongue were: 1. St. John of the Cross (d. 1775): the reformer of the Carmelite Order; 2. St. Dominic – the founder of the Order of Preacher, OP, commonly known as the Dominican Order and lastly, 3. St. Vincent Ferrer (d. 1419) – another celebrated Dominican from Valencia, Spain who according to his biographer, people seated or standing furthest away and those near him can hear him perfectly clear.
The memorial of the saints for us who live, not only serve as an example but also as an encouragement. Every time we celebrate their memorials we are reminded of the many ways we can honor, praise and glorify our Lord Jesus in our witnessing of life. In the Solemnity of All the Saints, we celebrate the Christ like witnessing of life. Where we are invited to imitate the life of the saints, like a garden full of plants, we can flourish and blossom like their flowers. The beauty of which, is the full reflection of its creator.
Today brothers and sisters, we are reminded that we affect other people; we can inspire people to greatness in holiness. When we invite Jesus to come to our life, shine through us, work through us, and form us according to His image and likeness, we become His message to others. “Lord Jesus, be with me today and the rest of my life.”
Through the intercession of All the Saints in Heaven, make us imitators of a (saintly) life worthy of being called your sons and daughters.
Be in God,
Fr. Bing