Collect taken from the Solemnity of All Saints Day.
Collect: Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints, bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors, an abundance of the reconciliation with you for which we earnestly long. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son…
“Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints,”
— Not only does God share his own goodness, but He grants us the joy of celebrating His grace in the lives and accomplishments of brothers and sisters who’ve gone before us. We call this generosity to mind as we stir up our faith for prayer and worship.
“bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors, an abundance of the reconciliation with you for which we earnestly long.”
— There is nothing the human heart desires more than to be reconciled to God. That same heart longs also to live in unity with others, so we implore God to fulfill both desires by using the saints as instruments of his grace and mercy.
Questions & Advice: Do you take seriously the communion of saints? Do you really believe that God is calling you to be a saint? That it is possible to become a saint?
Read about the communion of Saints in the Catechism (1474-77). In your daily prayer time, spend a few moment thanking God for all the saints, but especially for those closest to you. Pray also for the grace to believe it is possible to be a saint and the grace to follow God’s design for you. Make sure you not only go to Mass, but do something else that is celebratory. We fast, but we also feast and the Church tells us to today to feast and to rejoice.
 |
| Omnes Sancti et Sanctae Dei, orate pro nobis! |