Fr. Don's Daily Reflection
All Saints Day, November 1
Several decades ago I was struck by hearing an elderly Benedictine say that he regularly asked for the prayers of his deceased mother. Many of us are too hung up on the canonization process by which the Catholic Church formally declares someone a saint. Most of us live surrounded by saints!
(What follows is heavy on parents and spouses but there are many other categories.) Jesus put the requirements plainly: love God and love your neighbor. What about parents who forego world travel to enable their college-age progeny to study abroad? They stay at home and on the job--and together--while their offspring enjoy privileges they never had. How many of us non-parents get up several times a night to take care of a sick child and then up again at 5:30 a.m. for the daily commute? And once on the job, we're expected to be alert, imaginative, prepared, even pleasant! Doesn’t this all add up a lot of self-giving?
Lay people don't have organized groups like the Benedictines, Jesuits, Salesians to push the process of "canonization." The Home and School Association won't be doing it for John and Kay. Canonization often seems more like a Hall of Fame for high profile persons in the Church. And to require "miracles"? (One could, by the way, argue that Biblically-speaking miracles are not empirical matters to be verified by science and witnesses.)
Aren't there miracles in the perseverance and patience of parents? In the sacrifice of time and comfort they and others make? In the work of hospital and hospice workers, caregivers, social workers, often not simply for a paycheck but with love beyond the job description? Aren't there miracles in faithfulness, compassion, forgiveness, generosity, hope, joy, loving care, perseverance, patience, gentleness, etc.? I feel that I am telling you the obvious. . . Let's celebrate and be grateful for these neighbors, family members, friends on this feast of all the saints!
