Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

There are more than a thousand faithful who have been officially beatified by the Roman Catholic Church.  And there are more than thousands of unknown servants of God who, although not formally recognized by the Church, now rejoice in eternal union with God and share in fellowship with all the blessed and saints in heaven.

These are the ones whose lives have demonstrated the Beatitudes which we hear in the Gospel this Sunday.  These are the ones who listened and followed Christ until the end.  These are the ones who have lived a blessed and divine life by virtue of their Christ-rooted faith, hope and love.  Some were raised to the level of the blessed through a life of redemptive suffering, demonstrating faithful love, sharing in the Cross of Christ in the face of great illness or persecution.  Some exhibited an unwavering and vibrant devotion to God, loving His Word and living a sacramental life, and rendering utmost service to fellow human beings, especially the poor and the sick.  Some gave up their life for the sake of Christ.  All of them bore witness to the Lord Who Himself has first and foremost lived the Beatitudes.

All of us are also called by Christ to live a life of blessedness.  Christ, in His great love for us, longs to be in union with us.  He desires to bestow upon us the riches of His Kingdom. He longs to fill our hunger by nourishing us with His Word and the Eucharist.  He desires to comfort us in our sorrow and pain.  He longs to be our vindication, our defender, our savior.  Christ's wonderful promise awaits those who, through the Spirit of God, bear fruit for the Gospel, remaining faithful and steadfast in love.  We implore God that at the end of the day or at our last hour,  we will hear Him declare to us, "Rejoice and be glad; your reward will be great in heaven."

God is Love,

father Al