The Saints Among Us

Father John Anglin, OFM, who preaches on behalf of Unbound, reflects on the everyday saints in our lives.

All Saints Day is one of my favorite religious feasts. I can remember my days in Catholic school when we had the custom of dressing as our patron saint on that day. I can also remember while I was in high school being assigned to write an essay about someone that we believed to be a saint even though they were never formally canonized. I wrote about my grandmother. This day, then, celebrates not only those formally canonized, but also the countless number of holy people who are not recognized in that way.

In December 2017 I had the privilege of traveling to El Salvador with several other Unbound preachers. While there we were asked to consider sponsoring someone from that country. I selected an elder named Pedro. I knew from the start that the hand of God was in this choice because I was invited to meet him at a local place called “The Boston Ice Cream Shop.” (I was born and raised in Boston.)

As I talked with Pedro, he impressed me as having a simple but deep faith. He liked praying the rosary and going to Mass. I returned home and wrote him a letter. A few months later, after Easter in 2018, I received my first letter from Pedro.

I was amazed and moved by what he told me. He went to Mass every day of Lent that year to pray for me. That in itself was a wonderful gift, but I realized from visiting the town that he came from that he didn’t drive to church. He walked a couple of miles each way.

Over the next few years, I heard from him several times. His simple life and his faith always touched me. I cried when the folks at Unbound informed me that he had passed away. At the same time, I realized that I had someone in heaven to watch over me and pray for me. I also asked God to help me be inspired by Pedro to become a saint myself.

20231101 Unbound 3

Keeping Faith and Sharing Wisdom

In a 2014 Vatican address, Pope Francis said, “The elderly who have the faith are like trees that continue to bear fruit.”

Elders living in poverty have, at times, had little else but faith to sustain them, yet they continue to bear fruit by sharing hard-earned wisdom.

One such elder is Manuel, 85, of Guatemala. Manuel has experienced much hardship, including the loss of his wife at a young age and two of his four children. He remains grateful despite his losses, sharing that “God always helps us and gives us the opportunity … to keep fighting.”

“Early in the morning, I give thanks to God for a new day and offer my day’s work to him,” Manuel said. “At night, before going to sleep, I thank him for the day I spent, for everything I did, and ask for a restful night and a new sunrise.”

Lolita, 95, of the Philippines, stays active, earns income and helps the environment by collecting recyclable materials. She hopes for a good life for herself and her family, and to reach 100 years of age or more.

“I lift all up to the Lord, everything in my life,” she said. “I put my trust in him.”

On this All Saints Day, let us celebrate the many saints who have been part of our lives. May we be inspired and motivated by them as we make our own journey toward sainthood.

Please pray:

Loving God, as we celebrate All Saints Day, we thank you for the many holy people who have touched our lives. We pray that we may not only find admiration for them but inspiration to become more like them. You know, Lord, the saint that is locked inside each of us. Help us by our prayers and actions to grow each day in becoming that saint. Amen.