Today is your feast day, since you don't have to be dead to be a saint — but baptized. However, if you want this day to remain a day of celebration for you, you must not only be baptized but also live your baptism.

To live our Baptisms means to be so immersed in Jesus' death and resurrection that:

• We choose to be poor as He did (Mt 5:3).
• We sorrow when we're not like Him (Mt 5:4).
• We've learned to be lowly (Mt 5:5) and humble of heart (Mt 11:29).
• We hunger and thirst for Jesus' righteousness and not our selfishness (Mt 5:6).
• We forgive others and give them mercy as Jesus did even on the cross (Mt 5:7).
• Jesus is the only Desire of our hearts (Mt 5:8).
• We make peace (Mt 5:9), even if we have to shed our blood as Jesus did (Col 1:20).
• We prefer to be persecuted with and for Jesus rather than be popular and comfortable (Mt 5:10).

To be a saint is not necessarily to be in heaven now but to be in Jesus now — in His death and resurrection. If we are like Jesus while on earth, we shall see Him as He is in heaven (1 Jn 3:2). Celebrate All Saints' Day forever.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, April 2, 1996

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 3, 1996