The air is jubilantly triumphant when we recall and celebrate the feast of All
Saints. It is as if the whole creation as one Communion of Saints is grandly
assembled before the throne of victory of the Lamb who saved all humankind by
His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection—and Jesus the Lamb of God leads
us all—in heaven, on earth, and in Purgatory—in the Celebration of the
Eucharist, a glorious celebration of Thanksgiving without end, “ang pagsasalong
walang hanggan” (the eternal banquet), as sung in “Tinapay ng Buhay” (Bread of
Life).
We are the thirsting, struggling pilgrims in this “valley of tears,” with the angels waiting to protect us if we ask them, while we look with anticipatory joy to our heavenly reward, for the God of holiness has made us to share His glory in the kingdom of heaven. “For us, our citizenship is in heaven, from where we await the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord. He will transfigure our lowly body, making it like his own body, radiant in Glory, through the power which is his to submit everything to himself” (Phil. 3:20-21). “You will show me the path of life, in your presence the fullness of joy, at your right hand happiness forever” (Ps. 16:11).
In union with Jesus the High Priest, we bring with us our heart’s thanksgiving for all those who nurtured us in the faith, including our families and communities, and our beloved departed from this world, expressing our firm commitment to remain faithful in following the footprints of the Divine Master and Mary and the saints in the practice of fraternal charity and zealous service of humankind, especially the less fortunate ones. We praise God for the heroic example of our Bless-ed in heaven, while we pray the Spirit to guide our steps day by day to the Beatific Vision. “Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face” (Ps. 24:6); “To him whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine—to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, world without end” (Eph. 3:21).
We are the thirsting, struggling pilgrims in this “valley of tears,” with the angels waiting to protect us if we ask them, while we look with anticipatory joy to our heavenly reward, for the God of holiness has made us to share His glory in the kingdom of heaven. “For us, our citizenship is in heaven, from where we await the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord. He will transfigure our lowly body, making it like his own body, radiant in Glory, through the power which is his to submit everything to himself” (Phil. 3:20-21). “You will show me the path of life, in your presence the fullness of joy, at your right hand happiness forever” (Ps. 16:11).
In union with Jesus the High Priest, we bring with us our heart’s thanksgiving for all those who nurtured us in the faith, including our families and communities, and our beloved departed from this world, expressing our firm commitment to remain faithful in following the footprints of the Divine Master and Mary and the saints in the practice of fraternal charity and zealous service of humankind, especially the less fortunate ones. We praise God for the heroic example of our Bless-ed in heaven, while we pray the Spirit to guide our steps day by day to the Beatific Vision. “Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face” (Ps. 24:6); “To him whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine—to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, world without end” (Eph. 3:21).
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