Today is a big day. For the many who celebrate Halloween, it's a day of candy and costumes. For those who purchased a house 3 years ago, and moved on Halloween, it's an anniversary. Happy House Anniversary to me! But even bigger than that is what this day precedes. All Saints Day on November 1, followed by All Souls Day on November 2. The more I learn about my Catholic faith, the more I realize how much heritage and richness exists. The faith I believe is not unique to me; it has been practiced for centuries, by a multitude of saints who now celebrate in Heaven with God. We are all called to be saints, so you could think of November 1st as a celebration for both the deceased saints (including our beloved dead) and the saints-in-training (us)! It is a special day to remember those who have died; not that they are ever far from our thoughts.
I encourage you to make a special litany of the saints today or tomorrow. You can find litanies online or you can make your own. Simply name the saint, followed by 'Pray for us'. If you do this with someone else or with a group, one person would name the saint, and everyone else would respond 'Pray for us'. We can invoke the saints to help us in many ways, so keep your needs in mind as you pray. Note - you can also sing the litany :)
Some of my favorites include:
Saint Michael, the Archangel - pray for us.
St. Cecelia - pray for us.
St. Jude - pray for us.
St. Anthony - pray for us.
St. Maria Goretti - pray for us.
St. Anne - pray for us.
St. Joseph - pray for us.
St. Francis - pray for us.
St. Ignatius - pray for us.
St. Boniface - pray for us.
St. Isadore - pray for us.
St. Raphael, the Archangel - pray for us.
St. Gabriel, the Archangel - pray for us.
St. Joan of Arc - pray for us.
Who are some of your favorite saints? Why?
Prayer - Lord, we thank you for the examples of the saints; ordinary people who said yes to Your call. Help us to model their lives so that we may one day celebrate with them in Heaven.
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