To Walk Like Them
By the time you read this, it will be All Souls Day, a special time set aside to remember and honor all those who have passed from this life. Although today is All Souls Day, the Church has specially dedicated this day to remembering and praying for the holy souls who are currently in purgatory, seeking purification before entering eternal life. Let’s take a moment to pause, reflect, and pray for all the beloved individuals who have gone home in our lives. We pray with hope and faith that they now rest peacefully among the saints in the eternal glory of heaven.
Just yesterday, we celebrated the joyous feast of All Saints, a wonderful reminder of the countless holy men and women who inspire us. I truly love that God has given us saints as examples of faith and virtue. I don’t know about you, but besides the obvious saints like St. Francis and St. Clare, I have a few personal favorites among the saints, some of whom are pictured above. I will take the time to focus on a select few. I find these particular saints especially meaningful and deeply inspiring in my own spiritual journey and daily life. Let us begin with St. Maximilian Kolbe. I had heard of him before, but it wasn’t until I joined the Fraternity of St. Maximilian Kolbe that I began to truly read and learn about him more deeply and intensely. His profound love for Mary and his selfless, courageous act of willingly giving his life for another prisoner in a concentration camp is a powerful example of faith put into action. This Polish Conventual Franciscan Friar, known as the Knight of the Immaculata, has won my heart and continues to inspire me every day to be more courageous and steadfast in living out my own faith. Next to him is St. Colette of Corbie.
I first learned about St. Colette when I received a third-class relic of hers from a sister I knew, who has since passed away. St. Colette is well known for leading a significant reform movement within the Order of Poor Clares. She established the Colettines by reinstating a strict observance of the Rule of Saint Clare, emphasizing extreme poverty and rigorous fasting as central elements of the community’s spiritual discipline. She is a remarkable example of steadfast faith and genuine humility, especially when confronted with difficult and challenging circumstances.
Finally, Servant of God, Sr. Thea Bowman. As the granddaughter of slaves, she carried a profound and deeply meaningful heritage, becoming the only African American member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration whose cause for canonization remains open and active today. Throughout her life, she courageously transcended the many obstacles of racism and emerged as a powerful and inspiring witness to faith, unity, and the rich cultural diversity within the Church. Even in the most challenging times marked by pain, sickness, and suffering, she remained a shining example of wisdom, profound awareness, unwavering unity, and selfless charity, inspiring countless people by her steadfast devotion and loving spirit.
“All Christians are called to be saints. Saints are persons in heaven (officially canonized or not), who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation.” USCCB website on Saints
For me, every time I look at this photo, which is prominently displayed in my prayer space, it serves as my daily reminder to walk in their footsteps. It inspires me to live with the same faith and devotion, so that maybe one day I too can be united with them in the glory of heaven.
All you holy men and women, pray for us.
Keep at it!
Keep praying. Love the Lord.
Peace and Grace.
This month’s featured Spotify Spotlight highlights some of the most captivating and inspiring musical selections available right now.
To listen to this playlist, please click on the photo.
