“All Saints’ Day”
The meaning of the celebration
+ Originally celebrated as a feast commemorating all the martyrs, on All Saints Day, the Church remembers that “great multitude which no one can count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (cf. Revelation 7:9).
+ All Saints Day is a celebration of the fulfillment of Pentecost, recognizing that the message of the Gospel that was entrusted to the Apostles on that holy day has borne fruit in the lives of countless women, men, and children from every corner of the earth who are now with God in heaven.
+ This special feast reminds just hat the call to holiness is for everyone. Not only are we called to be saints, holiness is possible whatever our age, race, economic status, or vocation.
Spiritual bonus
Every day of the Church Year includes a celebration of several saints and blessed and the names of the saints honored on a given day are listed in a liturgical book called The Roman Martyrology. Although November 1 is the Solemnity of All the Saints, the Church still remembers certain individuals on this day, including Saint Harold.
Born around the year 935, Harold was the son of King Gorm “the Old” and is known as Harold “Bluetooth.” Harold later converted to Christianity and is honored as the first Christian king of Denmark. Harold was later murdered in rebellion led by his son Swein. Honored as a martyr, he is honored as a patron saint of Denmark.
Bluetooth software is named for Saint Harold, presumably because of his ability to make diverse factions communicate with one another. The Bluetooth logo is a made up of Nordic runes for the initials of Saint Harold “Bluetooth.”
Quote
“Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they who persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”—Matthew 5:8-10; communion antiphon for the Solemnity of All the Saints
Prayer
Almighty ever-living God,
by whose gifts 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,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...