Christ the Cornerstone

Mary is the queen of everyday saints

“Mary crowned with living light, Temple of the Lord, Place of peace and holiness, Shelter of the Word. Mystery of sinless life In our fallen race, Free from shadow, you reflect plenitude of grace. Virgin Mother of our God, Lift us when we fall, Who were named upon the Cross Mother of us all. Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Heaven sings your praise; Mary magnifies your name through eternal days.” (Hymn, Stanbrook Abbey, UK)

Tomorrow, Oct. 31, is the last Saturday in this month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is also All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween), which has become a secular holiday much affected by the economic and cultural results of the COVID-19 pandemic. The next day, Sunday, Nov. 1, is the Solemnity of All Saints, one of the holiest days in the Church’s year of grace.

What can these two days teach us about living in these challenging times?

All month long, the Church has asked us to meditate on the mysteries of the holy rosary in honor of our Blessed Mother Mary.

Earlier this year, during the height of the pandemic, our archdiocese joined Pope Francis and other dioceses throughout the world in rededicating ourselves to Mary under the title, “Mother of the Church.”

By this gesture of reverence and filial love, we affirmed what Christians have believed since the earliest days of our faith—that Mary is uniquely positioned to intercede for us, her children, in times of serious need, including plagues, famine and war.

We turn to Mary confident that she will show us the way to her divine Son and his healing power. On the last day of October, we once again implore our Blessed Mother to protect and care for us—now and at the hour of our death.

The last day of October is popularly known as Halloween, the day before All Saints Day. The original name “All Hallows’ Eve” derives from the Old English “hallowed,” meaning holy or sanctified, and is now usually contracted to the more familiar word Hallowe’en.

The Church traditionally held a vigil on All Hallows’ Eve when worshippers would prepare themselves with prayers and fasting prior to the feast day. Later, this penitential practice was replaced by the entirely secular holiday we’re familiar with today.

In the early seventh century, Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon in Rome, formerly a temple to all the gods, as a church dedicated to Saint Mary and the Martyrs, and ordered that that date, May 13, should be celebrated every year. This became All Saints’ Day, a day to honor all the saints, and later, a day specially to honor those saints who didn’t have a festival day of their own. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory IV made the festival universal, and Nov. 1 was designated All Saints’ Day for the Western Church.

Pope Francis has called this popular feast the day when we recognize “next door saints.” These are the women and men whose humility and virtue are often hidden from public view, but whose lives give powerful witness to the joy of the Gospel. During this time of worldwide crisis, many of these everyday saints have emerged from the shadows and shown themselves to be caregivers, first responders, family members, friends and neighbors who have risked their own health and safety to serve those who are most in need of our help. This Sunday, we honor these folks—and many others like them, both living and deceased—who are the all-hallowed saints of our time.

Mary is, of course, the most revered “everyday saint.” Although she is rightly given the most exalted titles, such as Theotókos (Mother of God), Regina Coeli (Queen of the Universe), and Stella Maris (Star of the Sea), Mary’s humility and her courage in the face of great sorrow and injustice is what endears her to us in an extraordinary way. Mary of Nazareth was truly a “next door saint,” and all generations call her blessed because of her simple but unshakable faith in the providence of God.

Let’s turn to Mary, and all the saints, to guide and sustain us as we grapple with the devastating effects of this pandemic and with the racial injustice and social unrest that troubles us so greatly today.

May we grow in our love and appreciation for the everyday saints we live with, and may their example inspire us to be holy men and women who strive to imitate Jesus in everything we say and do.

“Blessed are you, daughter, by the Lord God Most High, above all women on the Earth ... for he has so exalted your name that your praise shall be undying on our lips” (cf. Jdt 13:18–19). †