Solemnity of All Saints

The solemnity on 1 November that honours all Saints reminds us of the personal and universal vocation to holiness, and proposes sure models for this journey that each person walks in a unique way.

Dear brothers and sisters, choosing these, purity, meekness and mercy; choosing to entrust oneself to the Lord in poverty of spirit and in affliction; dedicating oneself to justice and peace — all this means going against the current in respect to this world’s mindset, in respect to the culture of possession, of meaningless fun, of arrogance against the weakest. This evangelical path was trodden by the Saints and Blesseds.

All Saints Day reminds us of the personal and universal vocation to holiness, and proposes sure models for this journey that each person walks in a unique way, an unrepeatable way. It is enough to think of the inexhaustible variety of gifts and real life stories there are among the saints: they are not all the same. … Each one of us can do it, take this path: meekness, meekness, please, and we will head toward holiness.

From Angelus for all Saints, Nov 2020.

Readings

Rev 7:2-4,9-14    I saw an immense crowd, beyond hope of counting, of people from every nation, race, tribe, and language.

Psalm 23:1-6   Lord this is the people that longs to see your face

1 John 3:1-3   We shall be like God because we shall see him as he really is.

Matthew 5:1-12   Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.

Suggestions for Prayers of Intercession

Kia inoi tatou - Let us pray

Invocation after each prayer:  E te Ariki …

Response: Whakarongo mai rā ki a mātou

For inspiration: that we may draw strength and courage from the witness of saints, both the famous and the ordinary, who have touched our lives

For this community of faith: that our worship may be joined with the saints and draw us into greater communion with God

For a greater awareness of God’s grace at work within us: attracting us to the practice of serving others with joy 

For peacemakers: that God will give them the courage to work for peace even when events darken the future and hearts seem hardened

For greater unity in the Church: that women and men from every nation on earth; from poverty and riches, powerful and vulnerable; from every race, language and culture, may be joined in Christ into one Body of faith, service, and witness by the one Spirit

Add to the following list, the saint's name  of your (own/school/parish) with prayers of petition or thanks.

Jesus, we pray with those who are poor in spirit, and all who hunger and thirst now
for righteousness.

St. Francis of Assisi, show us how to reverence and care for brother earth and sister skies.
 
St. Mother Theresa teach us how to feed all God’s hungry people.

St. Martin de Porres teach us how to find inter-racial justice and harmony.

St. Peter Chanel guide and protect all who live in Oceania promoting peace and harmony within diversity.

Venerable Suzanne Aubert who devoted her life to the poor, the sick and the underprivleged show us the way to do the same.

Add any others ...

Amen 

The saints are not "up there" distant and out of reach;

they are our spiritual family. 

“Once you enter into friendship with God,

everything in your life begins to change …

You are attracted to the practice of virtue.”

from Pope Benedict on sainthood.

 Main slider art work is from the painting of the Communion of Saints in the Baptistry in Padua.