The Church celebrates on this great feast all the saints who join God’s company in heaven, which include those canonized by the Church and those “unknown” saints, that is, people who are already in heaven, some of whom might be our family or friend. We celebrate the lives of these people who have already completed their journey here on earth and completed the necessary purification process in Purgatory. We are also reminded today about our universal call to holiness such that one day, we may also be able to join this multitude in heaven.
Since they are the ones who already enjoy the beatific vision: already “in glory, contemplating in full light, God Himself Triune and One, as exactly as He is” (CCC 954), we refer to them as the “?????? ??????????”. Meanwhile, those still in Purgatory undergoing purification as preparation for their entry into heaven are referred to as the “?????? ?????????”. This is because they are currently undergoing temporal punishment for the sins they committed while still on earth. We, who are still on earth and are continuously struggling against sin and the evil, while striving to live by the Precepts of God and His Church, are call the “?????? ????????” (or Pilgrim Church).
“??????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ????????, ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ??, ????? ??? ????, ? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ???????, ?? ????????? ?? ??????. ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??????????? ?? ??????, ?? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ???????, ?? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ??????????, ??? ????? ?? ??? ????????, ??? ??????? ?? ????????, ??? ????? ???? ?? ???????, ??? ????? ??????? ?? ?????????? ??? ??? ????? ?? ???????. ?? ?????, ?? ???? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ????????? ???? ??? ??? ??????.” (Saint Bernard, abbot)
??????? ??????
Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints, bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors, an abundance of the reconciliation with you for which we earnestly long. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
