Favorite Saints Who Love Earth

Today is the Solemnity of All Saints, or All Saints Day. That word “Solemnity” does rather make us think of somber and serious things, but serious, vitally important things do not need to be thought about with downcast faces and mirthless observation. The Saints whom we honor on November 1 are, after all, the holy men and women of God whose souls are caught up in the bliss of Divine love forever. They are joyful and we should rejoice with them, because we are also embraced in the love of God (whether we know it or not) with our immortal home waiting to receive us with endless celebration.

Two of my favorite Saints are Augustine of Hippo and Thérèse of Lisieux, both of whom loved Heaven as well as Earth.

Augustine was a great scholar with a brilliant mind, who expounded upon the great theology found not only in Scripture, but in Creation itself. His very human, very reasonable exposition of the reality of God, the one that drew me toward Christ, is an answer given by the beauty of the natural world:

Thérèse profoundly loved through ordinary things of daily life, teaching us all about the simple way of holiness. She understood the sacred littleness of being human and lived it beautifully and joyfully in small and very earthly ways. Just picking up a dropped pencil for someone was, in her great faith, an expression of divine love that she could give to another. Known as The Little Flower, she often illustrated the love of God and the beauty of being human through images of nature:

I take the words and witness of these great Saints to my heart and pray that God will open me up to the beauty of His Creation—which includes me.

Happy All Saints Day!

Saint Augustine and Saint Thérèse, pray for us!

© 2018 Christina Chase