For ALL the Saints......

Whether through preaching engagements or assisting on retreats with Barbara I have come to meet many, many wonderful people. There are times when these same people ask whether I might become their spiritual advisor.

There are times when I believe the combination might be a good fit and times when the relationship may be a challenge. In most cases I agree on a one time basis and that each of us review what happened and whether we should continue.

It so happens that I recently met with a directee in her church. Not knowing the layout of this church I was unsure of where this particular room was. As it turned out, the room was a small chapel on the side of the church which was also used as a collumbarium (ashes are kept in niches in the wall - each niche is covered by a simple stone giving the name of the deceased and their life span).

I had never done spiritual direction in a small, intimate space such as this and I had a very intense spiritual reaction. Walking in the room (which at first glance seems simply like a room with decorative tiles on the walls) I heard tens of voices each giving praise to God. High voices and low voices. Whispers and shouts. A type of melodic chant was further away, almost out of earshot. Walking into the center of the room I felt almost light headed - nearly floating on a cloud.

There was a prayer desk in front of a brief altar with a simple cross. I excused myself for one moment to the directee and knelt down with an overflowing inexpressible amount of gratitude in my heart. I was sent to assist someone in their spiritual journey and here we both were, surrounded by the souls of those whose journey was done. They had met perfection and needed no longer strive for it. The two of us in that small space were surrounded by the cloud of witnesses that the Bible speaks of.

I know my directee was moved by the experience and I certainly was. What a debt of gratitude we owe to those who have gone before - those who were known to us and God alone, those who were known to many. The famous, the homeless, the benefactors and the beneficiaries, the overtly kind and those whose kindness and generosity was a private matter. All of them Saints. All of them incorporated into Love. One and All, All in One.

Let us today remember ALL the saints who are embraced by the everlasting joy of God. May they have rest if they need it or do whatever task God now requires of them - if only to support and assist two earthbound souls seeking to know God's call to them more clearly.