Wednesday November 1
There are saints whom the whole world knows and loves. There are saints who are known only locally, within a particular region and among a specific population. But there are saints, totally unknown to the world, but fully known to God. If no sparrow falls to the ground without God knowing it and every hair on our head is counted, God knows every holy whisper of the hearts of those who love him, how insignificant they seem to be in the eyes of the world. It is this great crowd of witnesses, from every nation, race, people, and tongue that John sees in his vision. It may include my grandfather, neighbor, colleague, housekeeper, and even my enemy—people who looked so ordinary that I never considered them to be holy. It is their memory the Church honors today.
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen spoke of three surprises that awaited him in heaven: First, he would find in heaven many people whom he had never imagined to find there; second, he would not find in heaven many whom he had expected to see there; and finally, the surprise of all surprises, he would find himself in heaven! The Solemnity of All Saints is a feast of hope for us. For, we are all called to be saints.
