Remembering the Saints +

Today is the first of November, and today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints. 

During the mass, Msgr. Bong Lo shared two reasons why we honor and remember the saints:

1. To honor the saints is to honor God Himself who caused them to be saints. These men and women of faith were no extraordinary beings. They're just like us, graced by the Lord to live holy lives. 

2. To remember them is to remember that we are also called to be just like them, that we, too, are meant to be holy. And to be holy means to be BLESSED:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. (Verse 4)
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)

Today, as we remember the saints, may we also remember God's unconditional love, unending mercy and faithfulness despite our disobedience, our weakness and sinfulness. May we model our lives on these holy people who stood up for their faith and chose to live a life that does nothing but the will of God. 

And because today is First Wednesday, let this be our prayer of consecration:

IMMACULATE VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF GOD AND MOTHER OF THE CHURCH. YOU
ARE ALSO OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP. WITH HEARTS FULL OF LOVE FOR YOU, WE CONSECRATE OURSELVES TO YOUR IMMACULATE HEART SO THAT WE MAY BE YOUR DEVOTED
CHILDREN. OBTAIN FOR US TRUE SORROW FOR OUR SINS AND FIDELITY TO THE
PROMISES OF OUR BAPTISM.

WE CONSECRATE OUR MINDS AND HEARTS TO YOU THAT WE MAY ALWAYS DO THE WILL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. WE CONSECRATE OUR LIVES TO YOU THAT WE MAY LOVE GOD BETTER AND LIVE NOT FOR OURSELVES BUT FOR CHRIST, YOUR SON, AND THAT WE MAY SEE HIM AND SERVE HIM IN OTHERS.

BY THIS HUMBLE ACT OF CONSECRATION, DEAR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP, WE PLEDGE TO MODEL OUR LIVES ON YOU, THE PERFECT CHRISTIAN, SO THAT CONSECRATED TO YOU IN LIFE AND IN DEATH, WE MAY BELONG TO YOUR DIVINE SON FOR ALL ETERNITY. AMEN.