Of saints and souls

Today, November 1, is All Saints’ Day and tomorrow, November 2, is All Souls’ Day – two important events in the calendar of the Church both of which are official holidays.

The day of the saints is day to remember the faithful who have attained sainthood, the highest status for a Catholic believer. And why remember them? Because by doing so we will be inspired to become one of them. It is said that God wants us all to become saints and be with Him in paradise, but because of human frailty many of us falter and become prodigals to His love.

How can a Catholic become a saint? The path to that holy state starts with faith, a faith that can move mountains. Here’s Jesus words on this: “Truly, I say to you, if you say to this mountain ‘Get up and throw yourself into the sea’ and have no doubt in your heart but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you”.

This is a metaphor, of course, but the truth is driven home: Faith is not just a state of mind, it is an unshakeable conviction borne out of a consummate trust in God. As Shakespeare says (of love): “It is an ever fixed mark that looks on tempest and is never shaken”.

The saints looked at the tempests of their lives and were never shaken. They might not have uprooted mountains, but they overcame fears, a feat just as difficult. Our own brother saint San Pedro Calungsod undoubtedly was very much aware of the danger confronting him and Blessed Diego San Vitores that morning in 1672 in Guam but this did not prevent him from doing his missionary work. Indeed, he could have saved himself after the first spear failed to hit its mark, but he chose to stay behind to offer his life for his faith.

The first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz, also attained sainthood through martyrdom. But one need not shed blood to become a saint. In fact, many of those who have been raised to the altar of holiness were not martyrs but were ordinary believers like you and me. But they differed from us because their faith was more real.

When faith is real it dehumanizes – that is, it elevates a person from a purely human state into a spiritually charged entity, somebody who seems out of this world, and even out of his mind. Mother Teresa, now blessed, was said to have personally washed the dying poor in India. Saint Francis Xavier abandoned the wealthy lifestyle of his family and chose to live among the poor as he practiced his faith. Santa Monica seemed a crazy woman as she followed his erring son, Augustine, from place to place and tried to lead him to God.

These, and countless other acts of extra human deeds were shown by hundreds of Catholics who now compose our symphony of saints. Can we follow in their footsteps? Perhaps yes, perhaps no. It all depends on the quality of our faith.

From remembering the saints to remembering the dead the leap is not far. We remember those holy ones because we need their prayers along with ours on All Souls Day. Candles and flowers of course we bring them, but these are for the eyes only. Prayers are for the souls, wherever they are, and certainly these would go a long way to gladden the hearts. Prayers, prayers – how often has the Church reminded us of their importance! Prayers keep us in touch with the Lord, the giver of all that we are and all that we have. Prayers give us strength and enable us to accomplish what is seemingly impossible. And when the saints pray with us, what is there to worry about? Surely, those we visit on the day of the dead would be happy too for in their state prayers are what they thirst for.