All Saints

With a hectic lecture schedule (a rarity for final year medicine) and some cutting of corners, I managed to make it to a 5pm Tridentine Mass at the Oratory today. Thank goodness! Unfortunately there was no sermon, but from my moments of inspiration (which aren't many) I wanted to try and jot down some thoughts for today's feast.

I think the main thing I wanted to emphasise is that we are all called to be saints. Most importantly, that the saints are 'cheering us on' as St. Paul tells us, and that they are spurring us towards sanctity as we run the race of life, which they have managed to finish and win the crown of glory. To be with God, the blessed Trinity, in paradise is the most wonderful thought and goal to attain. It can encourage us and help us persevere through the troubles and hardships that life throws at us. If nothing else All Saints reminds us that we are part of a community, the Church, incorporated into the Body of Christ where "if one member suffer any thing, all the members suffer with it; or if one member glory, all the members rejoice with it" (1 Corinthians Chapter 12).

Today we, as the Church Militant, rejoice in the Church Triumphant, those glorious saints in heaven. Tomorrow, All Souls, is therefore very much connected as we recall and pray for the Church Suffering, in purgatory.

The Collect for today's mass:

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given us in one feast to venerate the merits of all Thy saints; we beseech Thee through the multitude of intercessors to grant us the desired abundance of Thy mercy. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.