Friday, November 1, 2024

Ending well...

    But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom
and will possess it forever - yes, for ever and ever.  
 Daniel 7:18 
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Solemnity of All Saints*
November 1
We are called to remember all of the saints, known and unknown,
whose lives have served as holy examples for us.
 
"To become saints means to fulfill completely what we already are, raised to the dignity of God's adopted children in Christ Jesus...” … “This, then, is the meaning of today’s Solemnity:  looking at the shining example of the Saints to reawaken within us the great longing to be like them:  happy to live near God, in His light, in the great family of God’s friends.  Being a Saint means living close to God, to live in His family…” Pope Benedict XVI

 

            "Saints of God, perfected in love and victorious over sin, who now enjoy the reward of adoring Our Lord face to face in everlasting JOY and GLORY:
Be gracious to remember us, flawed and failing, who 
still struggle on earth, who kneel here adoring Our Lord 
hidden in the tabernacle, who long for the day when we 
too will be made like Him and will see Him as He is.  
Gather around us here in His Eucharistic 
Presence to strengthen us with your prayers 
and to enrich our feeble worship 
with the mighty chorus of your praise.  
Teach us by your example to love Him above all things, 
so that we too may become the pure in heart to see God, 
who enjoy with you the eternal blessed fellowship 
of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
 
Paul Thigpen
From Jesus, We Adore You,
Prayers Before the Blessed Sacrament 

Image above: Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven, Fra Angelico - 1428-30

crown-of-life.jpg (263×192)

"Make up your mind to become a saint." 
St. Maria Mazarello 
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"Never say, 'What great things the saints do,' but,
'What great things God does in His saints.'"
 St. Philip Neri
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"The saints did not all begin well,
but they all ended well."
 St John Vianney
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"The saints were as weak as we are; 
grace sustained them.  
Why should we doubt that we, too, 
will be sustained by grace?" 
 Bl Clelia Merloni
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"I must become a great saint.
My Jesus wants it."
St Bernadette Soubirous 

 

 “O blessed souls, who knew so well how to profit by 
the gifts of God, and to purchase with this precious 
ransom so delectable and enduring a heritage, tell us 
how you won through Him such an eternal blessing!
Assist us, since you are so near the Fountainhead.
Draw water for those of us on earth 
who are perishing with thirst."
St Teresa of Jesus 
 Exclamations of the Soul to God,13
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Traditionally...
During the Octave of All Saints' Day (Nov 1 thru Nov 8) 
any of the faithful, by devoutly visiting a cemetery 
and praying for the departed, can obtain 
a plenary indulgence (each day this is done),
applicable to the holy souls in purgatory,
(under the usual conditions for obtaining indulgences).

Make every effort to do this!