In Communion With The Saints

All Saints Day. A time to celebrate our union with those who have gone before us, and those of us who are on our way, including the souls in purgatory. We refer to this union of peoples as "The Communion of Saints". We are reminded that "in unity there is strength", for we have the help of the saints and souls in purgatory, as well as our efforts to support each other, "to know, love and serve God in this life, and be happy with him in the next" (Baltimore Catechism, remember?).
While on the Marist Youth Encounter Christ retreat in Esopus, I had a preview of that happiness and a real experience of the communion of saints, as young adult Marists gave talks and led small group discussions. I saw the "Encounterites" move from doubt to faith, shyness to all-embracing love. The joy on these faces, the embraces, the desire to stay connected (we had to pull students from other busses to their own busses, so close had they become to their new friends from our other Marist Schools. I saw the effects of grace, and the power of pulling together, which is what the communion of saints is all about...we pray to the saints and they help us, and we in turn, help one another. This is a day to pray to our patron saints and to ask them for the light, strength and guidance to bring joy to our own hearts and to those in darkness, or doubt. We will celebrate our All-School Mass this morning at 8:15 am. and will pray for you all and thus be in communion with you.
Bro. Rene