The Beatitudes and Prayers for the Solemnity of All Saints
Today, November 1, the Church celebrates all the saints in heaven: the famous ones with feast days of their own and the countless holy men and women known to God alone, including, we hope, many from our own families. This year All Saints falls on a Sunday, and because it is a solemnity it takes the place of the Sunday.
For centuries the Gospel of this day has been the Beatitudes, Our Lord's portrait of a saint, and the first reading St. John's vision of "a great multitude which no man could number" before the throne of God. Both are given below in the Douay-Rheims translation, followed by the traditional postcommunion of the feast. Read them slowly and ask which Beatitude God is inviting you to live more fully this week.
The Prayer
From the Apocalypse (7:9-12): After this I saw a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and they cried with a loud voice, saying: Salvation to our God who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb. And all the Angels stood round about the throne, and the ancients, and the four living creatures; and they fell down before the throne upon their faces, and adored God, saying: Amen. Benediction, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, honour, and power, and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12): Jesus seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain; and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. Postcommunion: Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to Thy faithful people ever to rejoice in the veneration of all the Saints, and to have the aid of their unceasing supplication. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
All ye holy men and women, saints of God, make intercession for us.
See also: Prayer for All Saints Day, Litany of the Saints, and Te Deum.
Sources: Lesson (Apocalypse 7:9-12), Gospel (Matthew 5:1-12), and Postcommunion of All Saints from The Mass Every Day of the Year (1916) (Douay-Rheims text). Public domain.
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