THE ‘ABC’ OF HOLINESS
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
We are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain part of the Body of Christ.
Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
The Sign of the Cross
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.
A: Blessed be God forever.
L: In New Delhi, burning in a shrine under the arch of India Gate, is the Amar Jawan Jyoti which marks the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Such monuments exist in several countries: the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey in Britain, and the Arc de Triomphe in France.
By analogy, today’s Solemnity of All Saints is a commemoration of the Unknown Saint! We remember and celebrate the memory of the millions of people who lives holy lives but whom the Church has not officially canonised. We thank God for their lives of faithful witness, and we pray for ourselves that we, too, may one day be counted among them.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have not lived the universal call to holiness, we ask the Lord to forgive us.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you tell us, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
For our self-sufficiency and selfishness: Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you tell us, “Blessed are the merciful.”
For our hardness and unconcern for the suffering of others: Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you tell us, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
For our pride, unforgiveness and violence: Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
Gloria
Opening Prayer
L: All-holy God,
you call your people to holiness.
As we keep the festival of your saints,
give us their meekness and poverty of spirit,
a thirst for righteousness, and purity of heart.
May we share with them the richness of your kingdom.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.
Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
Psalm Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Response Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Reading 2 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10
Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,
and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
Gospel Matthew 22:34-40
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine sitting at the feet of Jesus when he teaches his disciples about the beatitudes. What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear the list of those who are blessed in the Kingdom?
Sunday Snippets
During World War II, England had a great difficulty keeping men in the coal mines. It was a thankless and unglorified job. Many wanted to join the military, which would give them glory and recognition. To motivate them to stay in the mines, Winston Churchill delivered a speech about their role in the war. He told them to picture the grand parade that would take place when VE day came: first would come the armed forces; then would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miner’s caps who had helped those ahead of them stay in battle.
A portrayal of the grand parade at the end of time would be similar: first would be the apostles, then the doctors of the church, and the founders of religious orders; bringing up the rear would be thousands of “ordinary” men and women.
The first reading depicts this parade “of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue.” The heavenly parade is a global assembly of ordinary people who have been faithful to God, struggled through everyday crises, lived lives of humility and service, and quietly witnessed to the gospel.
These unheralded and unknown saints have lived the beatitudes, which we heard in the Gospel.
Blessed are the poor in spirit! The “poor” are those who do not have the resources to meet their needs; they recognise and acknowledge their absolute need of God. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven! Jesus assures his disciples that when they totally depend on God, they belong to God!
The second to the seventh beatitudes spell out aspects of being “poor in spirit”.
In the eighth beatitude, we hear again “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Here, the “blessed” are those persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Righteousness, for Matthew, is doing God’s will.
The blessed are those who
- acknowledge their need of God;
- belong totally to God;
- commit themselves to God’s will every day.
That’s the ABC of becoming a saint!
Today’s feast is a reminder that God’s call for holiness is universal; all of us are called to live in his love and to live the beatitudes.
Will I strive to be holy in my daily and ordinary life? Will I live the beatitudes: acknowledge my absolute need for God, belong to him, and commit myself to doing his will?
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: Do I find opposition or indifference to gospel values of social justice? What do I do, especially when people are suffering because of this unconcern? What can I (or would I like to) do?
Reading 2: “Beloved, we are God’s children now.” How do I live this reality of being a child of God?
Gospel: When have I put my trust in things instead of in God? How can I live with greater simplicity and generosity?
The beatitudes challenge us to go beyond the minimum requirements of the Law. In what way do I “go the extra mile”?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: We are called children of God, and that is who we are. We bring our intentions with trust and love to God, who is our Father, as we pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that, inspired by the witness of the saints, we may rely on God’s mercy and providence as we strive to be faithful disciples, we pray to the Lord…
R: For greater unity in the church: that women and men from every region, race, language, and culture, from poverty and riches, from authority and powerlessness, may be joined in Christ into one Body of faith, service, and witness, we pray to the Lord…
R: For leaders of nations: that the Spirit of God may remind them of the weak, vulnerable, and powerless of society, we pray to the Lord…
R: For those who lack the courage to break with temptation and for those who dare not commit themselves to follow the gospel of Christ: that the saints may inspire them, we pray to the Lord…
R: For healing: that, through the intercession of the saints, God may deliver the human family from everything that destroys his gift of life, we pray to the Lord…
R: For ourselves: that we may draw strength and courage from the witness of the saints, both the famous and the ordinary, and grow in holiness by living the beatitudes, we pray to the Lord…
L: Lord God, you are holy and are glorified in all your saints. We implore your grace that we may one day reach the full measure of holiness and love. Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
Lord,
the saints were people like me,
weak, with faults like the ones I have;
only, they did not take these failings for granted.
They led the same life as I do,
only in a more courageous way.
You call me to the same holiness
to which you called them.
Help me to respond to your call
with your strength and blessing.
May I acknowledge my need and dependence on you,
know that I am your child and belong to you,
and commit myself to doing your will
every day and in all circumstances.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: Holy God,
gentleness, integrity, reconciliation,
poverty and littleness before you,
suffering that is liberating –
these are not easy to put into practice,
yet they are the stuff of which saints are made.
Give us your strength, Lord,
for we ourselves are incapable
of carrying out a task made for giants.
Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.
A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
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