Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On the Solemnity of All Saints, on Saturday November 1, in his address prior to the recitation of the Angelus with faithful gathered in Saint Peter's Square, the Holy Father Benedict XVI compared the multitude of Saints with the variety of plants and flowers that one finds in a botanical garden and leaves him amazed and “spontaneously thinks of the fancy of a Creator who has made on earth a marvelous garden.” “An analogous sentiment washes over us,” the Pope continued, “when we consider the spectacle of sanctity: The world seems to be a 'garden' where the Spirit of God has called forth with admirable imagination a multitude of men and women saints, of every age and social condition, of every language, people and culture. Each one is distinct from the others, with the uniqueness proper of the human person and of a particular spiritual charism. All of them have, though, the 'seal' of Jesus, that is, the imprint of his love, witnessed by way of the Cross.” The Pope pointed out that now, “all are in a state of joy, in endless celebration, but, like Jesus, they have reached this goal by passing through fatigue and testing.”
After recalling the origins of the feast of All Saints, declared during the first Christian millennium as a collective celebration of the martyrs, the Pope said that this martyrdom can be understood in a general sense, “that is to say, as love for Christ without reserves, love that is expressed in the total gift of oneself to God and to neighbor.” In order to reach this spiritual goal, “to which all the baptized are called,” one must follow the path of the Gospel beatitudes, read in the Mass for the day: “It is the same path traveled by Jesus, and which the saints have made an effort to travel, though aware of their human limitations.” During their earthly lives, they lived the spirit of the Beatitudes, and thus experienced a foretaste in this world, and in the world beyond, they enjoy it in plenitude.”
“On this day we feel the attraction for heaven rekindle in us. [It] moves us to quicken our step on this earthly pilgrimage. We feel burst into flame in our hearts the desire to unite ourselves forever with the family of the saints, of which already now we have the grace to form a part. As a popular spiritual hymn says: 'When the saints come marching in, oh how I want to be in their number.' May this beautiful aspiration burn in all Christians and help them to overcome every difficulty, every fear, every tribulation!” (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 3/11/2008)
