the saint who loved me most
"Dearly beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall later be has not yet come to light. We know that when it comes to light we shall be like Him." —1 John 3:2
God is holy. He "is a consuming Fire" (Heb 12:29), and He wants us to be consumed with the desire to be holy as He is holy (1 Pt 1:16). Nevertheless, even baptized people often have a weak desire for holiness. On this holy day celebrating all the saints, the Lord especially tries to increase our desire for holiness.
Today, focus on the saint you know best, the saint who loved you the most. This person is usually not a famous saint but a family member or friend who truly laid down his life for love of you. You care about this saint more than all the other saints. Although this person is probably not canonized, you know from your personal experience of his love that, if he's not in heaven, hardly anyone is. Because you love and admire this person, you want to be with him and like him. You want to be a saint too. This love can motivate you (see 2 Cor 5:14) to desire to be holy more than you desire anything else in life. Then you will be holy (Mt 5:6), for the Lord will make you holy by His grace. However, God's holiness is not forced on you but accepted only by those who desire it.
The saint who loved you most is a key to desiring holiness the most. On this holy day, use your key.
Prayer: Father, may Your name be recognized as holy because I, Your child, am holy (see Mt 6:9).
Promise: "These are the ones who have survived the great period of trial; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." —Rv 7:14
Praise: "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God almighty, He Who was, and Who is, and Who is to come!" (Rv 4:8)
Rescript:
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Giles H. Pater, April 24, 2003
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 28, 2003