In this month in which we commemorate the great feast of All Saints, we are to remember that each of us is called to holiness, regardless of our state of life. We must all desire heaven, ultimate union with God. The Church gives us many agents, not the least of which are the Sacraments, to progressively lead us to a deepening life of grace that we may become more and more like Jesus Christ.
As we think of the lives of the saints, let us not be discouraged but encouraged by these friends who have gone before us. They provide examples of the full flowering of baptismal grace and developed virtue. Read this short excerpt from Saint Bernard of Clairvaux as a sort of fervorino From the Office of Readings for the Solemnity of All Saints:
“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.”1
Click Below for full text of St Bernard’s sermon:
http://www.liturgies.net/saints/allsaints/officeofreadings.htm
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1 Saint Bernard, of Clairvaux. “Let Us Make Haste to Our Brethren Who Are Awaiting Us.” Office of Readings – All Saints. Accessed November 2, 2020. http://www.liturgies.net/saints/allsaints/officeofreadings.htm.
(Sermo 2: Opera omnia, Edit Cisterc. 5[1968], 364-368)
