🙏 Opening Prayer
“Almighty, ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints, bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors, an abundance of the reconciliation with you for which we earnestly long. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.” catholicculture.org+1
📖 Readings
First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
“I, John, saw another angel come up from the East … And I heard how many had been sealed: a hundred and forty-four thousand … from every tribe of the children of Israel. After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb … they had washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” USCCB+2Catholic Daily Readings+2
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
“R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell therein. … Who shall ascend the mountain of the LORD? … One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean. … He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, a reward from God his saviour. Such is the race that seeks him.” USCCB+1
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3“See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called children of God. … we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him makes himself pure, as he is pure.” USCCB+1
Alleluia: Matthew 11:28
“R. Alleluia, alleluia. Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord. R. Alleluia.” USCCB+1
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a
“When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain … and began to teach them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn …’ … ‘Blessed are the peacemakers … Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you … Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’” Catholic Daily Readings+1
🔍 Explanation & Application
Explanation:
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In the First Reading (Revelation 7), we see a vision of a great multitude from every nation, standing before God and the Lamb, having washed their robes and made them white. This signals the universal call to holiness — the saints are not only those officially canonised but all who are in Christ, from every tribe and nation.
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The Psalm emphasises that “the Lord’s are the earth and its fullness” and asks “Who shall ascend the mountain of the Lord?” pointing to the purity of heart and hands needed to approach God.
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In the Second Reading (1 John), the key message: we are children of God now, and in hope we are being made pure so that when Christ appears, we shall be like him.
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The Gospel (Matthew 5:1-12a) presents the Beatitudes: the values of the Kingdom of Heaven. Poverty of spirit, mourning, meekness, hunger/ thirst for righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, persecution for the sake of righteousness. These are the traits of those who belong to the “great multitude” of saints.
Application:
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For catechumens (those preparing for Baptism/Full Communion): This feast invites you to see that the Christian life isn’t about an exclusive club of “super-saints” but about each one being called to holiness. You are being initiated into this “great multitude”. The readings beckon you: strive for purity of heart, hunger for righteousness, be merciful, be peacemakers.
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For the faithful: The Feast of All Saints reminds us of our destiny and our community: both the “cloud of witnesses” and those yet to be. The Beatitudes challenge us: do our lives reflect these values? Are we living in hope, cleansing our hearts, working for the Kingdom?
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Specifically:
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Reflect on the heavenly reality: we are part of something vast and eternal (Revelation).
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Recognise your identity: children of God now (1 John).
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Commit to Kingdom values: embody the Beatitudes in everyday life (Matthew).
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Live in communion: the saints are not isolated but a community—so reach out to others, live mercifully, build peace.
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Practical steps:
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Choose one Beatitude this week (e.g., “Blessed are the merciful”) and practice concrete mercy: forgive someone, serve someone in need, speak kindly.
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Spend time in quiet reflection: “What does it mean for me to be a child of God?” and ask for the grace to “make myself pure as he is pure.”
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As catechumen: prepare by studying the lives of saints and recognising how ordinary people became holy through Christ. Allow that to inspire your own journey.
🙏 Closing Prayer
“Grant, we pray, that the saints whom we honour on earth may also intercede for us in heaven, that our pilgrimage on earth may be brought to a successful conclusion and the eternal joys of heaven may open to us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.”
(You may adapt this or use a similar “Prayer after Communion” from your missal.)
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