Today marks Catholic ‘All Saints Day’. It’s day set aside to remember all the saints who have come before us. The history of All Saints Day goes back to 609AD when Pope Boniface consecrated the Pantheon at Rome to the Virgin Mary and all the Martyrs.
Non-Catholics might not understand what a saint is. In my 12 years of Catholic school we spent quite a lot of time reflecting on Saints. I quite like Leonard Cohen’s description
It’s important to realise that Saints are not seen as gods, but rather reflections of a fallible human life rising against and in spite of the tide to find grace through the example of Jesus. Next year my son will have the sacrament of ‘Confirmation’ in which he gets to ‘choose’ a Saint whose life he is inspired by and to ‘receive’ the ‘gifts of the Holy Spirit’ - wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of God- to help him as he progresses towards adulthood. Mayhaps we all need a bit of this.
Reflecting on Saints and I cannot help draw parallels to the exceptional humans around me who maintain their own dignity, integrity and moral purpose even in the face of tremendous resistance and indeed concerted campaigns of actual destruction. People like Audrey Dempsey the Glasgow Councillor who continues to advocate for children in her ward, to serve the most vulnerable even when every single government colleague is set against her (and by association her young daughter). Individuals like
whose book Hounded charts her own devastating cancellation by the literary and cultural sector wherein she has lost all income, friends, reputation and suffered tremendously as a result. , , Birdy Rose, and Rachel Rooney to name a few. Then there are the ‘quietly let go’, the ‘secret blacklists’ of ‘wrong thinkers’ who are rendered unemployable and ostracised for not ‘getting in line’ with programs and policies and ideologies which run counter to what is true.These noble paths are not easy. Not easy at all. Soul wrenching. But it is these remarkable individuals who keep life from ossifying as truth is withheld, ignorance elevated and greed and ego promoted. The potential of this human life, as gifted by God, as determined by our free will, is so much more than that. So I will attend mass and reflect and pray on this and for those who do continue to demonstrate extraordinary moral courage. It is not easy. But I am eternally thankful you are here working for the greatest good.
I leave you with the beautiful prayer by Saint Francis of Assisi “Make Me A Channel of Your Peace”
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is hatred let me bring your love
Where there is injury, your pardon Lord
And where there is doubt true faith in YouMake me a channel of your peace
Where there is despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness only light
And where there's sadness ever joyOh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soulMake me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
It is in giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we are born to eternal lifeOh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soulMake me a channel of your peace
Where there's despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness only light
And where there's sadness ever joy
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Thanks so much I do appreciate it!
A perspective that is truly needed this week most especially.
This American Catholic of Scottish descent says, amen and thank you! I wish more Christians understood the beauty and truth of our fundamental unity, our “communion of saints,” and their assistive role in salvation.