Faith and the Triumphant Church

One of the three states of the Church is the assembly of all the saints. We commemorate their triumph every first of November. Faith teaches us that they “are in glory, contemplating ‘in the full light, God Himself triune and one, exactly as He is’” (CCC 954).

This commemoration is so important just as Vatican II teaches us that: first, it should lead us to imitate their example of charity and not merely settle on external acts; second, that our awareness of our communion with them should lead us to become closer to one another and to Christ; and thirdly, that their constant intercession for us may strengthen each one as pilgrims in this world (LG 51).

We might think that it is far from real to become triumphant in our spiritual battle. Yet, even as Filipinos we should be inspired by the examples of San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod. They stepped on this same archipelago, spoke our own language, wore the same dress as us, ate our native food and believed in the God we believe in today. Can we not then be among the triumphant like them?