Solemnity of All Saints
Massimo Palombella
Today’s solemnity, focusing on holiness, invites us to reflect on the quality of our lives.
In fact, we are all called to “life in abundance”, to the fullness of humanity, to our being conformed to Christ that is realised in our daily lives, in the simple – and sometimes ordinary – things that we have to do every day. Searching for the truth, discerning our lives, making concrete choices that define our identity, means encountering separation and suffering, but also much joy, the inner joy that no one can take away from us.
The beatitudes of today’s Gospel (Mt 5:1-12a) describe this path perfectly, in the sense that they require us to make a decision (to be poor in spirit, meek…) in relation to living in the Truth, to affirm our identity with facts. In all this, it is clear that the fullness of humanity, the “abundant life” refers to our “interior” life, and that therefore happiness, meaning, the “purpose-filled” life are instances which already belong to our history, to our life, to the “here and now”, and which will be fulfilled, will reach their fullness in eternity, when every tear will be wiped from our eyes and we will sell God “face to face”.
The Gradual of today’s celebration is taken from Psalm 33 (Ps 33, 10. 11) with the following text:
‘Timéte Dóminum omnes sancti ejus:
quóniam nihil deest timéntibus eum.
Inquiréntes autem Dóminum non defícient omni bono.’
(Revere the Lord, all you saints of his;
for there is no want among those who fear him.
Those who seek the Lord shall lack no good thing).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Graduale Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. Interpretation: ‘The Benedictine Monks ff St. Pierre’. The music track can be found on the CD ‘Gregorian Chants’ published by ‘Virgin Music Group’ in 2011.
A blessed Solemnity and heartfelt greetings.
