“Let us all rejoice in the Lord as we celebrate this feast day in honor of all the saints…” - Introit for the Solemnity of All Saints
What a blessing to approach such a feast: All Saints Day! From the lives of the early virgin-martyrs with their unspeakably radiating love for God amidst the greatest of trials to holy popes that guided the Church as true fathers through warfare, heresies, and plagues, from St. Maria Goretti to St. John Paul II, our Lord never ceases to manifest His love uniquely within each saint. The saints were able to live this way through radical receptivity to His grace, won by merit of their Baptism and His victory on that bright Sunday morning so many years ago. The saints are living witnesses of hope to life beyond: to eternal life in Heaven and that life here on earth ought to be lived more alive, more fully, and “more abundantly” (cf. Jn 10:10).
“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.” - Heb 12:1-2a
We cannot get to Heaven alone. We need friends that are devoted to our salvation. This “cloud of witnesses” is the cohort of friends in Heaven praying for your salvation constantly. The saints are not a detached hall of fame club; they are living within God, praying without ceasing for the Church upon earth and in purgatory. Although in perfect bliss rejoicing in the beatific vision, our entrance into Heaven delights all the saints, as well as our Lord. This entrance is the greatest cause for rejoicing (cf. 1 Pt 1:6). The love of the communion of saints, this perfection of friendship, is always fixed on our Lord, and thus, seeing the Church within His gaze of love, each saint individually desires your salvation, your greatest good; each saint loves you.
Let the race begin anew today and everyday. To live is to begin, to change, to pursue, to love. You too were made as a unique instrument of God’s will to share in Christ’s redemption of the world through the Paschal Mystery and to one day, by His mercy, share — with the saints — in the glory He had before the foundation of the world (cf. Jn 17:24, Eph 1:3-6). Seeing the saints and seeing our Lord, we are attracted to that life: the life we were made for. How could we not respond by dropping everything to follow after our Lord and this great cohort, especially when our Lord leads the work of His saving yoke, preparing the earth of our being for eternal community?
“Behold, I make all things new.”- Rev 21:5a
God entrusts our souls to our friends. The Lord entered my life as He enters the lives of all Christians: through another, through community, through friendship. I was shown God’s love through holy friends and priests, spiritual fathers. We need this friendship; saints always run-in packs. On earth, they pointed at each other and said, “Yes! You!” to then run after the Everlasting Hills together through the greatest of dangers. Our Lord has made it this way; He delights in our joy from the gift of friendship. Our friendships on earth ought to reflect and share in that heavenly friendship in a Trinitarian way: you, your friend, and God, eternally united to His Church Triumphant, all becoming more unified simultaneously. Holy friendships take prayer: on your own and as a community; they take sacrifice and perseverance; they take eyes fixed together on the Lord. Seek after holy friends on earth and in Heaven. Invite them to pray the Mass with you. Invite them to run to Heaven with you. Let us rejoice in the Lord for the great work He has done in the saints.
“I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to that banquet where You, with Your Son and Holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to Your saints. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”- Prayer of Thanksgiving After Mass, St. Thomas Aquinas
Mr. Trossbach is a College III seminarian for the Archdiocese of Washington.