For theirs is the kingdom of heaven

The Gospel reading—the Beatitudes—spells out simply how we can be holy and become saints.

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Blessed are we if we keep the eight Beatitudes, not just one or two. We can be saints even if we are still alive here on earth, if we consistently live by the Beatitudes, and be humble enough to acknowledge our sinfulness.

We, Catholics, commemorate the memory of all departed believers who were faithful and followed Christ to the best of their ability. We recognize them as holy men and women. They took to heart the Gospel values. We believe that they are all in heaven, enjoying the reward Jesus promised to the just. We also believe that they are praying for us, and God is listening to them. Today, we give honor to them as a group, but we also reflect on the possibility that we, too, can become saints.

First Reading « Rv 7:2-4, 9-14