Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": All Saints

November 1, 2013: All Saints, solemnity

Readings

Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 Angel cried, “Do no damage until we put the seal on God's servants.” 144,000 were marked, representing every tribe of Israel. Multitude cried, “Salvation comes from our God, seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.” Angels worshiped: “Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to God forever.” Elder: “They made their robes white in the Blood of the Lamb.”

Ps 24:1bc-4ab, 5-6 "Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face." The Lord’s are the world and those who dwell in it. Who may stand in God's holy place? One with clean heart, who will receive blessing and reward from God.

1 Jn 3:1-3 See Father's love: We're God's children now and shall be like him, see him as he is. Hope.

Mt 5:1-12a Jesus taught: “Blessed the poor in spirit, mourners, meek, hungry for justice, merciful, clean of heart, peacemakers, persecuted, insulted; they'll be comforted, satisfied, shown mercy, rewarded, inherit the land, see God, be called God's children, be greatly rewarded. Rejoice.

Reflections

Pope Francis Angelus: Saints, friends of God, were like you and me, not perfect, living normal lives. Knowledge of God's love changed them; they endured adversity, responded to evil with good, spread joy and peace. We're all called to be Saintly, walk the path of holiness; the pathway has a name and face: Jesus Christ.

Pope Francis audience re Communion of Saints: We share in the Trinity, a communion of life and love; we're united to one another in Christ, draw nearer to God, and are called to support one another. We experience solidarity between heaven and earth in intercessory prayer.

Creighton: Apocalyptic language, language of transformation. We need to be transformed; it's hard, but God is on our side, and we can support each other. Saints transformed the world; their example inspires us and they pray for/with us.

RC.net: Beatitudes: holy life, happy life; sign of contradiction, decisive choices

Sacred Space

Music

For all the saints (Sine Nomine)/ Vaughan Williams (feast) (a cappella)
With all the saints/ Hurd (sheet music sample) (feast)
Litaniae Sanctorum/Litany of the Saints chant: Latin, English (feast)
Litany of the Saints/ Becker, lovely though not approved as Litany of the Saints in Catholic liturgy because it includes people not canonized like Origen and lacks called-for intentions (feast)
Beatitudes/ Ducote (gospel)
Blessing and honor and glory and power, from Messiah/ Handel (2nd reading) [plus "Worthy is the Lamb" and "Amen" for free]
Blest are they/ Haas (gospel)
All for the best, from Godspell/ Schwartz (spoof of beatitudes) (2011 revival, or original cast with video)