This month starts with the celebration of the All Saints’ Day. It is our feast, for we are called to sanctify. Lumen Gentium, the 2nd Vatican Council Dogmatic Constitution, dedicates its 5th chapter to the explanation of the universal vocation to sanctity in the Church.

“It is evident to everyone, that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity; by this holiness as such a more human manner of living is promoted in this earthly society. In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history.” (LG 40)

And who are the saints? They are those who live according to the Beatitudes. Pope Francis, in fact, reminds us that they are not supermen or superwomen, but they are simple and humble, they give space to God in their lives, they are able to cry for others’ and their own mistakes, they remain meek, fight for justice, are merciful towards everybody, preserve the purity of their heart, work for peace, remain joyful, do not hate, and, even when they suffer, they react to evil with goodness. This means to live the Beatitudes, and the saints are those who have lived by following this path. And we are all aware that they are more than the ones we celebrate in the calendar; we may have met and known them. I am sure WUCWO members are among them. All WUCWO women are striving for the paradise. And what is the paradise? 

“Paradise is not a fairytale place, much less an enchanted garden. Paradise is the embrace of God, infinite Love, and we enter there thanks to Jesus, who died on the Cross for us. Where there is Jesus there is mercy and happiness; without him there is cold and darkness. At the hour of death, a Christian repeats to Jesus: “Remember me”. And even if there may no longer be anyone who remembers us, Jesus is there, beside us. He wants to take us to the most beautiful place that exists. He wants to take us there with the small or great deal of good that we have done in our life, so that nothing of what he has already redeemed may be lost. And into the Father’s house he will also bring everything in us that still needs redemption: the shortcomings and mistakes of an entire life. This is the aim of our existence: that all be fulfilled, and be transformed into love.” (Pope Francis, General audience, October 25th, 2017)

Prayer

Almighty ever-living God,

by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints,

bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors,

an abundance of the reconciliation with you for which we earnestly long. 

Further readings:

Pope Francis, General Audience, Wednesday, 25 October, 2017

http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2017/documents/papa-francesco_20171025_udienza-generale.html

Lumen Gentium, Chapter V 

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html