All Saint's is one of my favorite festivals of the church year. I do love church festivals, in general. But All Saint's, especially, is so full of that bittersweet joy, that precious hope tempered with wistful sadness, that characterizes our mortal lives as immortal creatures in a temporal, bound-for-death body. It is the festival at which the veil between our dying, soiled life here and the saints and hosts of heaven seems the most thin.
O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
It is the festival at which the veil...seems the most thin.
YES! Thank you for saying this so eloquently. I shall credit you when I steal it. :-)
Posted by: Joy | 02 November 2009 at 02:42 PM