Growing up, I so enjoyed reading accounts of Christian heroes and martyrs. I would pour over the stories of Brother Andrew, Corrie Ten Boom, Jim Elliott and Amy Carmichael. I also enjoyed the Bible stories of Samson, Joseph and David. These were people that gave me courage to live my Christian life with boldness and hope. The only thing that disappointed me was that there weren’t more of them. In the Christian bookstore, there were only so many biographies of Protestant legends.
Today, as a Catholic, I celebrate with the whole church of the ages the great cloud of witnesses who have run the race and achieved the prize. There are so many of them! A virtual army. A triumphant band.
I see that my need for the saints was innate, even when I was far from the Catholic Church. What an amazing treasure to be brought into something so much greater than I could have ever imagined. Yahoo!!!
“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Happy All Saints Day!!!!
David Bennett
Jennifer
asimplesinner
Fr. J.
Chad Toney
Jorge Flores
Jonathan B
carmelbennett
nicenehobbit
Jason S
jaybird68
papaz
November 1, 2007 at 8:20 pm
EXCELLENT post JB!
And nice painting of the martyrs of Korea. Little known fact, the Korean saints and beati account for 1/4 of the saints added to the calendar at one point. That has probably changed since the 20th century Spanish Civil War martyrs were added.