Holiness Demands a Constant Effort

Zenit News Agency ^ | November 1, 2006 | Benedict XVI

[ELS]

Benedict XVI's Homily for All Saints' Day

"Holiness Demands a Constant Effort"

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 1, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the homily Benedict XVI gave during the Mass he presided over in St. Peter's Basilica today, the solemnity of All Saints.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Our Eucharistic celebration opened today with the exhortation "Let us rejoice in the Lord." The liturgy invites us to share the heavenly jubilation of the saints, to taste the joy. The saints are not a restricted caste of elect but a crowd without number toward which, today, the liturgy exhorts us to lift our eyes.

Among this multitude are not only the officially recognized saints but the baptized of every age and nation who have sought to accomplish the divine will with love and fidelity. Many there are whose faces and names we do not know but with the eyes of faith we see them shine like stars full of glory in the divine firmament.

Today the Church celebrates her dignity as "mother of the saints, image of the eternal city" (Alessandro Manzoni), and manifests her beauty as immaculate bride of Christ, the source and exemplar of all holiness. She does not lack for riotous and indeed rebellious children, but it is in the saints that she recognizes her characteristic traits and precisely in them she savors her deepest joy.

In the first reading the author of the Apocalypse describes "a great multitude,
which no one could count, from every nation, race, people and tongue" (Revelation 7:9). This people comprises the saints of the Old Testament, beginning with Abel the just and the patriarch Abraham, and then those of the New Testament, the many martyrs at the beginning of Christianity, the blessed and the saints of the ages that followed, and finally the witnesses of Christ in our own time. What was common to them was the will to incarnate the Gospel in their existence through the impulse of the Holy Spirit, who is the eternal giver of life of the people of God.

But "of what use is our praise of the saints, our tribute of glory, our solemnity that we celebrate?" A famous homily of St. Bernard for the feast of All Saints begins with this question. It is a question that we could ask ourselves even today. The reply that St. Bernard gives is also pertinent to us: "Our saints," he says, "have no need of our honors and they gain nothing from our commemoration. For myself, I must confess, that when I think of the saints, I feel enflamed by great desires" (Homily 2, "Opera Omnia," ed. Cisterc, 5, 364 ff.).

Behold the meaning of today's solemnity: Gazing upon the luminous example of the saints the great desire to be like the saints is awakened in us; happy to live near to God, in his light, in the great family of the friends of God. Being a saint means living close to God, living in his family. And this is the vocation of all of us, vigorously reaffirmed by the Second Vatican Council, and on this day brought to our attention in a solemn way.

But how can we become saints, friends of God? An initial response to this question is this: To be saints it is not necessary to perform extraordinary deeds and works, nor is it necessary to possess exceptional charisms. But this only tells us what sainthood is not. The positive answer is that to become a saint it is above all necessary to listen to Jesus and then to follow him and not lose heart in the face of difficulties.

"If anyone wants to serve me," he says, "he must follow me, and where I am there also is my servant. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him" (John 12:26). Whoever entrusts himself to him and loves him with sincerity, will die to himself as the grain of wheat buried in the earth.

He knows in fact that whoever tries to keep his life for himself will lose it and whoever gives his life, in this way, finds life (cf. John 12:24-25). The experience of the Church demonstrates that, although they take different paths, all forms of holiness must always pass through the way of the cross, the way of self-denial.

The biographies of the saints depict men and women who, always docile to divine designs, sometimes endured indescribable sufferings, persecutions and martyrdom. They persevered in their task. "These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress," we read in the Book of Revelation, "they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (7:14).

Their names are written in the book of life (cf. Revelation 20:12); paradise is their eternal abode. The example of the saints encourages us to follow in their footsteps, to experience the joy of those who entrust themselves to God, because the only cause of sadness is to live far from him.

Holiness demands a constant effort but it is possible for all since it is not just the work of man but is above all a gift of God, who is thrice holy (cf. Isaiah 6:3). In the second reading the Apostle John observes: "See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are" (1 John 3:1).

It is God therefore who loved us first and in Jesus he has made us adoptive sons. In our life all is a gift of his love. How is it possible to remain indifferent before so great a mystery? How is it possible to not respond to the love of the heavenly Father by leading a life of grateful children?

In Christ he has given himself entirely to us and has called us to a personal and profound relationship with him. Thus, the more we imitate Christ and remain united to him, the more we enter into the mystery of divine holiness. We discover that we are infinitely loved by him and this moves us to love our brothers. Loving always means an act of self-denial, "losing oneself," and it is in this way that we become happy.

We therefore arrive at the Gospel of this feast, the proclamation of the beatitudes that a short while ago we heard echo through this basilica.

Jesus says: Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are the afflicted, the meek, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, the merciful, blessed are the pure of heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted for the sake of justice (cf. Matthew 5:3-10).

In truth, the blessed par excellence is only him, Jesus. Indeed, he is the truly poor in spirit, the afflicted, the meek one, the one hungering and thirsting for justice, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemaker; he is the one persecuted for the sake of justice.

The beatitudes show us the spiritual physiognomy of Jesus and thus express his mystery, the mystery of death and resurrection, of the passion and the joy of the resurrection. This mystery, which is the mystery of true blessedness, invites us to follow Jesus and thus the way to happiness.

In the measure that we accept his proposal and follow him -- everyone according to his own circumstances -- we too can participate in his beatitude. With him the impossible becomes possible and in the end the camel passes through the eye of needle (cf. Mark 10:25); with his help, only with his help, we are able to become perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect (cf. Matthew 5:48).

Dear brothers and sisters, we now enter into the heart of the Eucharistic celebration, the stimulus and nourishment of holiness. In a short while Christ will become present in a higher way, he who is the true vine to which are united, as branches, the faithful on earth and the saints in heaven.

The communion of the pilgrim Church in the world with the Church triumphant in glory will be strengthened. In the Preface we will proclaim that the saints are for us friends and models of life. We will ask them that they help us to imitate them and to undertake to respond with generosity to the divine call as they did. We will especially call upon Mary, the mother of the Lord and mirror of sanctity. May she, the all-holy one, make us faithful disciples of her son Jesus Christ! Amen.

[Original text: Italian. Translation by ZENIT]

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On All Saints' Day

"Everything Passes, Only God Does Not Change"

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 1, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered today from the window of his study, to the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square to recite the midday Angelus on the solemnity of All Saints.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we celebrate the solemnity of All Saints, and tomorrow we commemorate the faithful departed.

These two deeply felt liturgical observances offer us a singular opportunity to meditate on eternal life. Does modern man still look for this eternal life or does he think that it belongs to a mythology that we have moved beyond?

In this our time, more so than in the past, we are so absorbed by earthly things that it is hard for us to think of God as a protagonist in history and in our own lives. Human existence, however, by its very nature, is directed toward something greater, which transcends it. The yearning in human beings for the fullness of justice, truth and happiness is irrepressible.

Faced with the enigma of death, there is alive in many the desire and the hope to find their loved ones again up above. Just as powerful is the belief in a final judgment which will re-establish justice, the expectation of a definitive confrontation in which each will be allotted what he deserves.

"Eternal life," however, does not mean for us Christians simply a life that lasts forever, but rather a new quality of existence fully immersed in the God's love, which frees us from evil and death and which puts us in everlasting communion with all the brothers and sisters who share in the same love.

Consequently, eternal life can already be present in the center of earthly and temporal life when, through grace, the soul is joined to God, its ultimate foundation. Everything passes, only God does not change. A Psalm says: "My flesh and my heart diminish; but the rock of my heart is God, God is my lot forever" (Psalm 72[73]:26).

All Christians, called to sanctity, are men and women who live anchored solidly in this "rock"; they have their feet on the earth but their heart is already in heaven, definitively dwelling with the friends of God.

Dear brothers and sisters, we meditate on this reality with our soul turned toward our final and definitive destiny, which gives meaning to the circumstances of our daily lives. Let us revive the joyous sentiment of the communion of saints and allow ourselves to be drawn by them to the goal of our existence: the face-to-face encounter with God.

Let us pray that this be the inheritance of all the faithful departed, not only of our own loved ones but also of all souls, especially those most forgotten and most in need of divine mercy. May the Virgin Mary, queen of all saints, guide us to choose eternal life in every moment -- the "life of the world to come," as we say in the Creed; a world already inaugurated by the resurrection of Christ and whose coming we can hasten with our sincere conversion and works of charity.

[Translation by ZENIT]

[At the end of the Angelus the Pope greeted pilgrims in several languages. In English, he said:]

I offer a warm welcome to all the English-speaking visitors gathered for this Angelus prayer.

Today's solemnity of All Saints invites us to rejoice in the fellowship of the saints, to imitate their example and to strive to share in their eternal reward. Through their prayers, may all of us be strengthened in our fidelity to the Gospel and its promises. God bless you all!

[ELS]

Pope Benedict XVI has told pilgrims gathered at the Vatican to mark All Saints' Day that saintliness was within the grasp of all human beings who "entrust their life to God".(AFP/Patrick Hertzog)

Pope Benedict XVI (C) conducts the Holy Mass for All Saints' Day in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican November 1, 2006. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (VATICAN)

Pope Benedict XVI waves at the end of the Holy Mass for All Saints' Day in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican November 1, 2006. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (VATICAN)

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful during the Angelus prayer for the All Saints Day in St. Peter's square, at the Vatican, Nov. 1, 2006.

[ELS]

Weekly audience ping!

There was no audience today, but I have posted His Holiness' sermon from Mass today and his Angelus address. Enjoy!

[Miss Marple]

Thank you so much!

[MikeyGo]

Very deep thoughts but we can all learn.

I am not Catholic, but I really like what the Pope has to say on this.

"Constant Effort" -- yessirs. All the time.

[MikeyGo]

I am new -- are Mozart Lover's and Jemian's sons in the Army or Navy or similar?

I will certainly pray for them tonite.

[Miss Marple]

Yes, they are both in Iraq. Both enlisted in the Guard after 9/11. Mozart Lover's son will be home sometime before Thanksgiving, and Jemian's son just left a month ago.

Both ladies are friends of mine from the General thread "America the Right Way", which is the longest-running daily thread on FR.

I am sure both mothers (and their sons) would appreciate your prayers. Both sons are wonderful young men who are the very best this nation has to offer.

[Frank Sheed]

http://amywelborn.typepad.com/openbook/2006/11/from_rome.html#comments

Amy Wellborn's blog had some beautiful comments on this today. I posted a link to her coverage.

Frank

[Frank Sheed]

I pray for those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan every single day. Please convey my deep admiration and appreciation to your friends for the service their sons are performing.

May God bless them and may their Guardian Angels keep them from harm. Saint Michael the Archangel, protect them at all times!

Francis himself

[Suzy Quzy]

What a fabulous man!!

[PandaRosaMishima]

Somewhere John Paul the Great and thoughtful is smiling.
Papa Benedict often gets a smile that reminds me of my cats.

[MikeyGo]

"Yes, they are both in Iraq. Both enlisted in the Guard after 9/11. Mozart Lover's son will be home sometime before Thanksgiving, and Jemian's son just left a month ago.

Both ladies are friends of mine from the General thread "America the Right Way", which is the longest-running daily thread on FR."

These are the people that make US (us and the USA) what we are. God bless these warriors in the battle for our freedom. It is so sad that people like Johns Kerry and Murtha work so hard to detract from our success. I wish I could remember who it was who said we (again, us and the US) cannot be defeated on the battleground, so the Enemy works to defeat us on the Politiground. And Kerry and Murtha and Pelosi and Kenndy are their frontal assault force.

I will say prayers tonight for these warriors. And I will try my first "tagline."

I am sure both mothers (and their sons) would appreciate your prayers. Both sons are wonderful young men who are the very best this nation has to offer.

[MikeyGo]

Can you please tell me why my submissions are responded to with "Thank you for your contribution. Your comment has been submitted for review."

Did I do something to somebody? I am new, so if I offeneded someone, I am soooo sorry. Please tell me what I did wrong so I don't do it again.

Thank you Miss Marple (that was one of the characters in Clue, right?)

[Miss Marple]

If you are a new registrant, I believe the owners of this site have started a delayed posting program for those who are new.

I think they did this because we were getting a fair number of disruptive people from the democrat ranks, and fake and offensive stuff was staying on the site too long. Now new people are having their posts reviewed before they go up.

I think this will stop for you after a month or so. Please don't feel unwelcome...it is a policy in place fof all new people, due to some bad apples.

[Miss Marple]

Oh...and you are close with your guess about my name. Miss Marple was a lady detective in Agatha Christie's mystery novels, and those are some of my favorite books.

[DungeonMaster]

Today the Church celebrates her dignity as "mother of the saints,

The church is the mother of the saints? That's a new one on me.

[trisham]

Wonderful photos!

[FourtySeven]

Welcome to FR! I remember when I first signed up, new registrants couldn't post at all (original articles) for (I think) 2-3 months. They put various measures in place during times of "hard trolling", I believe.

Bump for the Holy Father's comments too!

[MikeyGo]

Thank you for your kind reply.

[MikeyGo]

"Miss Marple was a lady detective in Agatha Christie's mystery novels, and those are some of my favorite books."

Oh -- I think I got the character in the novels and the characters in Clue confused (Miss Scarlett, maybe?)

Thank you