The saints are not distant, but love and understand us. They are happy and want to help us to be happy with them in Paradise.
Pope Francis underscored this in his Angelus Address on All Saints Day, Nov. 1, 2018, to some 15,000 faithful gathered in a rainy St. Peter’s Square.
Saints Understand and Love Us, Want to Help Us
We are united with all the Saints, not only to those most noted in the calendar, the Pope said, but also those “next door,” our relatives and acquaintances too. Today is a family feast, he underscored, adding: “The Saints are close to us, rather, they are our truest brothers and sisters.”
“They understand us, they love us, they know what our true good is; they help us and wait for us..They are happy and want us to be happy with them in Paradise,” Pope Francis stressed.
They therefore, he pointed out, invite us to follow the way of happiness, indicated in today’s Gospel, namely the Beatitudes, Jesus’ commands. The Lord, the Jesuit Pope stressed, “asks for all,” but “what He offers is true life, the happiness for which we were created”
No ‘Half Measures’ of Holiness. Let Saints Challenge Us
In short, Francis said: “Either holiness or nothing!”
“It does us good to let the Saints challenge us, who didn’t have half measures and “cheer” for us because we choose God, humility, meekness, mercy, purity, because we are passionate about Heaven rather than the earth.”
Today, the Pope said, “these brothers and sisters of ours don’t ask us to hear again a beautiful Gospel,” but to put it into practice, to undertake the way of the Beatitudes.
Not About Doing Extraordinary Things
“It’s not about doing extraordinary things, but about following every day this way that leads us to Heaven, as a family, at home,” he said.
Therefore, he reminded that today we glimpse toward our future and celebrate that for which we were born: “We were born never to die again; we were born to enjoy the happiness of God!”
The Lord, the Pontiff underscored, encourages us and to each who follows the recommendations of the Beatitudes, He says: ‘Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in Heaven.’”
Our Beloved Deceased Above With Mary & Celestial Family
“May the Mother of God, Queen of Saints, help us to follow with determination the way of holiness,” Pope Francis said, adding: “May She, who is the Gate of Heaven, introduce our dear deceased ones into the celestial family.”
Pope Francis concluded, wishing everyone a good lunch and feast day “accompanied by the saints.”
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Full Angelus Address: https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-solemnity-of-all-saints-2/
