Today is the first day of November and for many people that just means it is the day after Halloween. Most kids are buzzing with energy because of the mounds of candy the accrued last night. I myself indulged a bit in the tradition of handing out (eating) candy last night.
But today is much more than just the first of November, it is the solemnity of All Saints day. This is a Holy day of obligation if you were wondering. This day isn't as big as other obligatory days but this day can teach us so much.
All saints day was started by Pope Boniface IV in 609 AD. All Saints Day was established for two reasons. One was to combat the pagan holiday "Feast of the Lemures," a day which pagans used to placate the restless spirits of the dead. But more importantly, it was to pay homage to the many known saints of the church.
So today we celebrate the many wonderful and great saints of the church. But more than just celebrating the saints I believe that today is a great day to learn more from the saints. Each and every saint has an amazing story and every saints story has valuable lessons to learn. This is why Confirmandi or people who are about to be confirmed in the church must choose a saint name. They are supposed to choose a saint that speaks to them and that they can relate to.
My saint was St. Denis of Paris. Saint Denis was the Bishop of Paris and a very well liked man by everyone in Paris. He was a missionary and he was so good at converting people that the non-Christian priest were angered that they were losing so many people. They alerted the Romans and was thrown in jail. He was then asked to leave his religion and he would be spared but he refused. He then had his head cut off becoming a martyr. The interesting thing is that it is said he picked up his head and walked 6 miles preaching a sermon.
What I learned from Saint Denis is a lesson of perseverance. Also, I learned a great lesson in faith, which can be learned from any martyr really. St. Denis had such faith that even in death he still preached the good word. Even death couldn't stop him from continuing on evangelizing. That is how much he loved Christ and His message.
I think one of the best saints to look to as normal everyday people is that of St. Peter. In reading the gospels we can learn the Peter was just like us, very foolish. At moments he would be brilliant and understand exactly what Jesus was saying. At others, Jesus must have been almost annoyed because Peter didn't get it.
The best example is the last supper and the denial of Peter. Peter didn't get that he wasn't supposed to protect Jesus. He was supposed to deny him and Christ was supposed to die. St.Peter was a foolish man but his heart was always in the right place. This is why he is the rock Christ built his church on. This is why he was the first pope of the church. He is the model for every other pope to look to. He was a foolish man and so are the Popes and so is every other person on earth. But if your heart is full of compassion you will gain understanding.
These saints give us so much hope in our lives which is why we ask them to intercede for us all the time. But with a generation and society like ours I often wonder do people know the power of the saints? The answer I found is no.
People are always idolizing celebrities just because they can hit a baseball 500 feet or because they wear expensive clothes. I don't even know why people idolize the Kardashians. But I ask what have these people done for you? You could say that Anthony Rizzo gives me inspiration because the Cubs are in the world series. But to that, I say it's just a game. Next year when maybe they don't make it who will give you inspiration?
If you want people to truly idolize choose the saints. And no not the football team. The saints are a vastly diverse group of individuals that can give so much. If you need help in sports ask St.Sebastian. If you have an impossible dream you want to achieve ask St. Rita. If you lose something ask St. Anthony. If you are feeling bad and going through a rough time as ask St.Dymphna for help. Any problem or situation you have the saints can help. Why not idolize these people that even in death continue to help us.
All Saint's Day is a day that we get to thank and pay our respects to these great people. I hope that we all strive to become saints in our own unique way. The world always needs more saints. Please pray for these incredible people.
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