"Oh, when the saints go marching in; oh, when the saints go marching in, Oh, how, I want to be in that number when the saints go marching in!" We’d sing that song every day in a big cafeteria at one of the meals served to the campers and counselors at E.C. Week at Camp Fatima in New Hampshire. The E.C. stands for exceptional citizens: people who have Down’s syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, and so many other challenges that they face every day.
And, yet, these young and middle aged campers found such joy in wanting to be a Saint, who one day would march into heaven.
Today, we celebrate, give thanks for, and pray to all who are now in heaven, the Saints. The well-known, like St. Peter, St. Therese, St. John Paul II, St. Mother Theresa, and the Holy Cross’ own St. Andre Bessette. But we also give thanks for those not named by the church, our relatives and friends who are also in the presence of God, the Angels, and other Saints.
In today’s first reading, John speaks of a countless "…multitude; from every nation, race, people and tongue" standing before the throne and the Lamb, wearing white robes, holding palm branches, and crying out in praise of God.
Sometimes it’s hard to imagine being part of that group; whether it is the challenges we face, our imperfections and distractions, or even crossing from the earthly concerns to one of heavenly worship.
There is nothing on earth it’s equal, and that is why we need holy men and women - and even children - to show us the way and intercede for us. It is why we need the Mass, that brings together heaven and earth, and why we need each of the sacraments, for our journey to Heaven.
The Saints have lived like us, human lives, and yet have developed the virtues and holiness of life that Jesus points to in the Gospel from Matthew.
These people have, each in their own way, been poor in spirit, have mourned, been meek and merciful; they have hungered and thirst for righteousness, sought a purity of heart; they have been peacemakers, and even suffered persecution for the sake of righteousness.
Like each of them, we are called by God to live exceptional lives of virtue and holiness. Beginning in our families, we are called to instill that zealous desire of those campers from E.C. Week, to one day make it to Heaven.
God blesses us with holy men, women, and children - those who we read about and those we meet if only for a week - that inspire us to live a life worthy of God that leads to a reality in Heaven that we can only begin to imagine - and yet is where God and all of our brothers and sisters wants us to be.
May God bless you and your family this holy day as we give thanks for the Saints for their example and intercession in our lives.
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