All Saints Day

Dearest Ones,

What great rejoicing there must have been in heaven on Sunday, October 19 when the parents of St. Therese, Louis and Zelie Martin were declared "Blessed." Being named "blessed" is the next step to being a saint. The Mass in their honor was held in the huge Bascilica of St. Therese (named in her honor) in Lisieux, France. This is the first time in history the Church has canonized the parents of a saint and the second time for a married couple. In times like today, when the traditional family is being threatened, it is a good time to hold up the importance of a mother's and father's influence. In our prisons, the majority of inmates have either had no father figure in the home or a bad father. This doesn't mean there are not exceptions, as St. Martin DePorres' father abandoned him when he was born but he still became the first canonized saint in South America! Therese had holy parents who taught by their example the value of suffering. Louis and Zelie Martin had nine children - three boys died in infancy and a daughter died at the age of five. The five daughters who lived all entered the convent. When asked if it would have been better if she had not had the infant sons who died, Zelie replied, "Oh no, because now we have saints in heaven praying for us." Although she never knew them, all her life St. Therese prayed to her three little brothers in heaven and felt very close to them. In order to make it financially, Zelie made lace and sold it from her home. She suffered greatly from breast cancer for several years before the died a very painful death at the age of forty-five. Therese, the youngest, was only four at the time and the loss had a profound effect on her spiritual life. Her heart was broken and she began to live for heaven, where she could again see her mother. Her father died at the age of 75, after spending his last three years in a mental institution. This holy man realized he was mentally ill but offered this suffering in union with the suffering of Christ. In order to become canonized by the Church, it is necessary that there be miracles. One miracle happened in 1993 in Italy. A child was born with damaged lungs and needed to be on a respirator constantly from the moment he was born. His parents prayed to Louis and Zelie Martin to intercede for their little boy. Very soon after praying, the boy improved so much that he no longer needed the respirator and seven doctors, including some who were atheists, were baffled. They could give no medical explanation for the cure. Today the boy is well and healthy. The number one job of parents is the tremendous responsibility to raise children to become saints. We know they cannot do this alone and it requires much prayer. Even very, very good parents have children who disappoint them but they need not feel guilty, as long as they have done their best. God will not take away our free will. The reason the Church canonizes saints is to encourage us. I am greatly inspired by the saints because they lead the way and show me how to get to heaven. They prove it can be done. Most saints are not canonized. It doesn't matter whether we are canonized or not - all that matters is if we finally make it to heaven. November 1 is All Saints Day, when we pray especially to all those gone before us. Call on them, especially your patron saint. It's special to be named after a saint because they intercede when we need help. The saints are all around us. They are not just watching from heaven but as St. Therese says; "I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth. I shall come down. After my death I will let fall a shower of roses." Therese was like us - she didn't hear voices, work miracles or have visions. The last three years of her life, she felt she was in a dark tunnel. God even allowed her to doubt there was a heaven - she had nothing to look forward to, but she thought only of others and offered this suffering for those who had lost their faith. Married couples have great intercessors now in Louis and Zelie Martin - call on them to help you.