Today we’ll celebrate the Feast of All Saints Day. It is hard to honor one Saint on every day of the year because there are too many. We don’t want to forget anyone in particular.
Recently, On Facebook a certain Catholic website asked my three favorite Saints and I answered, Saint Joseph Cupertino, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, and Saint Mother Theresa.
Ask the same question in a month or a year from now and I may come up with a different answer. These specific saints were on my mind recently and their lives must have been an inspiration at this moment in time.
Saint Joseph Cupertino came to my mind because of his deep intense worship that according to witnesses of the time led him to levitate above the alter during the Mass. I am trying to loose weight but it would centuries for me to be able to worship at that level of intensity .
Saint Maximilian Kolbe not only gave up his life to save another man, he was also in Auschwitz because of his preaching against the Nazi regime. Greater love hath no man.
Then their is Saint Mother Theresa. She is an example of humility and mercy towards others. When I get down, I take out a copy of her “Anyway Poem”
My point is that all these saints of the Church, and my Mom and Dad, Uncles and Aunts, and countless others that are part of that great multitude give me hope that one day I will be like them in white robes. If only I could take one portion of any part of their lives and try to live like them.
Jesus give us the road map for all of us in the first chapter of the “Sermon on the Mount” He was speaking of the Saints I chose when He said, ” blessed are the meek, blessed are the merciful and blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.”
The Beatitudes are our road map to sainthood . It journey is not staying in the state of Grace. It is actually doing something. Then Jesus says, “Rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven.”
Trust me I am not there yet, but all the Saints we celebrate today inspire me.
God Bless you always
Bob Burford
