Ruminations of an Irascible Hermit.: Let us follow the Lamb with the saints (Rev 14:4)

Monday, October 31, 2022

Let us follow the Lamb with the saints (Rev 14:4)

This evening as we celebrate the Vigil of the Solemnity of All Saints, many other people are unknowingly celebrating halloween without understanding the stark contrast of the secular view of this special time compared to the Christian understanding. The world celebrates ghosts, witches, vampires and the dead - while we Catholics celebrate those who chose to follow the Lord of the Living & Dead who has the keys of eternal life.

The saints known and unknown - all gloriously rejoice with Christ our King, the Lamb who was slain and now reigns forever. With them all interceding for us to fight the good fight, cheering us on in the race, and surrounding us as the witnesses of the power of the love of Christ - let us follow after our Crucified & Risen Saviour who calls us to follow him!

It is interesting to know, that I found out for the first time today that this special feast originated as a way for the early Church to celebrate all the different martyrs, and then over time as persecution in the Roman Empire ceased with the legalisation of Christianity then it eventually developed into “All Saints” as we now know it. The antiphons from this Evening’s Vigil prayers in the Divine Office beautifully highlight the wonder and glory of the saints united to Christ in triumph.

Ant. 1 Eternal light will shine upon your saints, O Lord, and they will live for ever, alleluia.

Ant. 2 Jerusalem, city of God, you will rejoice in your children, for they shall all be blessed and gathered together with the Lord, alleluia.

Ant. 3 Before the throne of God and the Lamb the saints will sing a new song; their voices will resound throughout the earth, alleluia.

Magnificat Ant. The glorious company of apostles praises you, the noble fellowship of prophets praises you, the white-robed army of martyrs praises you, all the saints together sing your glory, O Holy Trinity, one God.

1 comment:

Brian EugeneNovember 1, 2022 at 12:51 PM
Following the Lamb like the Carmelites of Compiègne
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Disclaimer

Please note. I am a Catholic layman, not a qualified theologian or philosopher. What I say and write here are my own personal thoughts and ideas, although I always try to conform my writings to the Magisterium of the Church.

I- with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the symbol of faith: namely,

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith I believe as well everything contained in God's word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the church--whether in solemn judgment or in the ordinary and universal Magisterium--as divinely revealed and called for faith.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by that same church definitively with regard to teaching concerning faith or morals.

What is more, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic Magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.