Saint Gus?

Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints. For the past 20 years, whenever this day falls on a weekday, I have a tradition of calling everyone with whom I speak on that day as St. (Your Name). It’s really a lot of fun! Why not try it today? Everyone you talk with today, call them a saint! See how they react. I’ll bet you’ll get a few strange looks. It will be a perfect opportunity to talk about the feast, and about the Communion of Saints.

It’s probably easy for us to think of others as saints. We think of the many men and women who have been canonized by the Church. The list numbers many thousands. And it continues to grow. Why? Because we continue to recognize those who have lived an exemplary life. Saint Pope John Paul II named more saints than any other Pope before him. Popes Benedict and Francis have continued that practice. They want to let us know that Saints are all around us. In fact, there are many future saints walking around on the planet right now.

Could you be one? I am 99.999999% sure that you would cringe at the mere thought. But is it out of the question? Well, I don’t know. But I do know this…it should be our goal. God created each and every one of us to be saints. It is we who strike off on a different path. But never fear! The good news is that ALL of the Saints were sinners! Just like you and me! So don’t dismay. I’ll bet that if we could ask all the Saints in heaven if they ever thought they would be named a Saint, every one of them would say, “NO way!” So keep on plugging, St. (Your Name)!!

Father, thank you for giving us the opportunity to be a saint each and every day. May we more closely emulate the Saints today. All holy men and women, pray for us. Amen.

Today’s Readings

Want to learn more about the Communion of Saints? Get a copy of my CD on the Communion of Saints! Find that and much more at www.GusLloyd.com.