The Pantheon today |
On Sunday, November 1, we celebrate the ancient "Solemnity of All Saints." The earliest observance of a feast in honor of all the saints is an early fourth-century commemoration of "all the martyrs." Then in the early seventh century, after several waves of invaders plundered the catacombs, Pope Boniface IV gathered up twenty-eight wagon loads of bones and reinterred them beneath the Pantheon, a Roman temple dedicated to all the gods. The pope then rededicated the shrine as a Christian Church. (The preceding notes are from page 291 of the revised edition of "Saint of the Day," by Leonard Foley, a book you will find extremely informative and edifying.)
In today's chaotic world of pandemic, presidential election campaign rhetoric, racial unrest, and economic uncertainty, we could do well to reflect for a few minutes on this feast and on the notion of "saint," remembering that the central idea of the feast is summed up in a single word: LOVE.
The feast began as a celebration of the martyrs. These people were, by definition, "witnesses" to Christ. They're models of selflessness, the very opposite of what our culture prizes -- putting yourself as "number one" and demanding by right that the world around you arrange itself for your comfort and convenience.
We could go on, of course, listing the virtues of the various members of the great "white-robed army," traits that serve as models, as encouragements and challenges for us present-day Christians who are on our way to becoming saints as well.
If you sometimes get the feeling that you no longer know which way is up, think about the saints, each one of whom is praying for you, and each one of whom has shown by his or her life the way to the Kingdom.
Happy All Saints' Day!
As always I appreciate Fr Albert s clarity
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