He came out from the desert. His garment was a coat of camel's hair.

A man so full of passion, though probably not quite one for fashion

'Cause I imagine it got quite hot under there…

Calling out repentance, convicting men of sinYou think that all would hate him but so many stood

there waitingBy the Jordan to be dunked by him

““Herald of the Great Herald of the Great King”King”

Bob RiceBob Rice

And regarding his behavior we thought he might be the savior,

But he said, "No, no, no, no, no..."And the more that we'd imply it well the more that

he denied it

He’d say, "I am not the answer. It's not my praise I sing.

I am just the herald of the great king.”

There was a man named Francis. He wore something like a brown old burlap sack.

He got it when he stripped in front of the bishop who just flipped

And told someone to put that something on his back

Walking round kissing lepers. Trying to be the poorest of the poor.You think he'd be repelling but his faith was so

compellingThat the people kept knock, knocking on his door

And though his days were hot and long you know his heart was filled with

songHe'd go like, "La, la, la, la, la..."

Only to God he's clinging, I can almost hear him singing

He said, "I am not the answer. It's not my praise I sing.

I am just the herald of the great king.”

It's all for the kingdom, it's all for the kingYou are my all and all, You are my everything

It's all for the kingdom, it's all for the kingYou are my all and all, You are my everything

It's all for the kingdom, it's all for the kingYou are my all and all, You are my everything

Revive my heart, renew my soul

In You oh Lord I am made whole

No more in fear will I wander

Cause you’re my God

My Lord and lover

“Just Like You”Matt Maher

Like a burning fire

Be my one desire

Refrain: I want to be holy just like You

I want to go where you lead me toWith reckless abandon to your truth

I want to fall deeper in love with You

Oh lift me up, God my Father

In all this world, there is no other

I’m dancing in Your holy presence

And Your glory fills all my senses

Like a burning fire

Be my one desire

I want to be holy just like You

I want to go where you lead me to

With reckless abandon to your truth

I want to fall deeper in love with You

I want to be holy just like You

I want to go where you lead me to

With reckless abandon to your truth

I want to fall deeper in love with You

I want to be holy just like You

I want to go where you lead me to

With reckless abandon to your truth

I want to fall deeper in love with You

And deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper in love with you.

And deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper in love with you.

And deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper in love with you.

I want to be holy

I want to be holy

I want to be holy

“Sing with All the Saints in Glory”Ode to Joy, Ludwig van Beethoven

Sing with all the saints in glory, sing the resurrection song! Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story, to the former days belong. All around the clouds are breaking, soon the storms of time shall cease; In God’s likeness we, awaking, knowing everlasting peace.

O what glory, far exceeding all that eye has yet perceived!

Holiest hearts, for ages pleading, never that full joy conceived.

God has promised, Christ prepares it, there on high our welcome waits.

Every humble spirit shares it; Christ has passed the eternal gates.

Life eternal! heaven rejoices; Jesus lives, who once was dead.

Join we now the deathless voices; child of God, lift up your head!

Patriarchs from distant ages, saints all longing for their heaven,

Prophets, psalmists, seers, and sages, all await the glory given.

Life eternal! O what wonders crowd on faith; what joy unknown,

When, amidst earth’s closing thunders, saints shall stand before the throne!

O to enter that bright portal, see that glowing firmament;

Know, with Thee, O God immortal, Jesus Christ Whom You have sent.

Our Reward is Based on Us Finishing the “Race” of Faith

“Surrounded then as we are by this great cloud of witnesses, let us strip off everything that hinders us, as well as the sin that clings to us, and let us run the race that we have to run with patience, our eyes fixed on Jesus the leader--the source and goal of our faith.” Hebrews 12: 1-2

“I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” Acts 20: 24

Our Reward is Based on Us Finishing the “Race” of Faith

“Not that I have become perfect yet; I have not yet won, but I am still running, trying to capture the prize for which Christ Jesus captured me. I can assure you my brothers, I am far from thinking that I have already won. All I can say is that I forget the past and I strain ahead for what is still to come; I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upward to receive in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:12-14

“Keep yourself in training for a godly life. Physical exercise has some value in it, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for now and for the future. That is why we struggle and work hard…” 1 Tim 4:7-10

“You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?” Galatians 5: 7

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things…I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I subdue my body, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” I Cor. 9: 24-27

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Therefore, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord…will award to me on that Day…” 2 Timothy 4: 7-8

Our Reward is Based on Finishing the “Race”

Saintly Definitions and Quotations:

“A saint is a sinner who never gave up.”

“The only tragedy in life is not becoming a saint.” -- St. Therese

“Reflect that in reality you have a greater need to serve the poor than they have of your service."

-- Angela Merici

"He became what we are that He might make us what He is."

--St. Athanasius

“It is clear that, though you created us without our help, you do not want to save us without our help. You want us, merciful and compassionate Father, to look at your boundless compassion for us, so that we may learn to be compassionate, first of all to ourselves and then to our neighbors-- just as the glorious Paul said, "All charity begins with oneself." -- Catherine of Siena

"Thanks be to Thee,

my Lord Jesus Christ,For all the benefits

Thou hast given me,For all the pains and insults Which Thou has borne for me.O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother,May I know Thee more clearly,Love Thee more dearly,Follow Thee more nearly,Day by day. Amen." -- St. Richard of Chichester

““Late have I loved You, Late have I loved You, O Lord; and behold You were O Lord; and behold You were within and I without, and within and I without, and there I sought You. You were there I sought You. You were with me when I was not with with me when I was not with You. You called, cried and You. You called, cried and burst my deafness. You burst my deafness. You gleamed and glowed and gleamed and glowed and dispelled my blindness. You dispelled my blindness. You touched me, and I burned for touched me, and I burned for Your peace. For Thine own Your peace. For Thine own self you have made us, and self you have made us, and our hearts are restless until our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee. Late have I they rest in Thee. Late have I loved You, Your beauty ever loved You, Your beauty ever old and ever new. You broke old and ever new. You broke my bonds asunder; unto You I my bonds asunder; unto You I will offer up an offering of will offer up an offering of praise.”praise.”

-- St. Augustine-- St. AugustineConfessionsConfessions

St. ThereseSt. ThereseThe Little FlowerThe Little Flower

“Each small task of everyday is part of the total harmony of the universe.”

“Jesus makes the bitterest mouthful taste sweet.”

“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice.”

“The great majority of men use their own short-sighted ideas as a yardstick for measuring the divine omnipotence.”

St. ThereseSt. Therese "We live in an age of inventions. We "We live in an age of inventions. We

need no longer climb laboriously up need no longer climb laboriously up flights of stairs; in well-to-do houses flights of stairs; in well-to-do houses there are lifts. And I was determined there are lifts. And I was determined to find a lift to carry me to Jesus, for I to find a lift to carry me to Jesus, for I was far too small to climb the steep was far too small to climb the steep stairs of perfection. So I sought in holy stairs of perfection. So I sought in holy Scripture some idea of what this life I Scripture some idea of what this life I wanted would be, and I read these wanted would be, and I read these words: "Whosoever is a little one, words: "Whosoever is a little one, come to me." It is your arms, Jesus, come to me." It is your arms, Jesus, that are the lift to carry me to heaven. that are the lift to carry me to heaven. And so there is no need for me to grow And so there is no need for me to grow up: I must stay little and become less up: I must stay little and become less and less.”and less.”

St. Therese’s “Little Way”St. Therese’s “Little Way”

Called by John Paul II -- The Greatest Saint of the Called by John Paul II -- The Greatest Saint of the 20th Century20th Century

"Love proves itself by deeds, so "Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least word, and the doing of the least actions for love."actions for love."

Blessed Mother TeresaBlessed Mother Teresa ““Spread love everywhere you go: Spread love everywhere you go:

first of all in your own house. Give first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.”kindness in your warm greeting.”

Mother TeresaMother Teresa "There is no greater sickness in the "There is no greater sickness in the

world today than the lack of love.”world today than the lack of love.” "We can do no great things; only "We can do no great things; only

small things with great love.”small things with great love.” ““There is nothing small in God’s There is nothing small in God’s

eyes. The moment we give it to God eyes. The moment we give it to God it becomes infinite.”it becomes infinite.”

"God loves a cheerful giver. She or "God loves a cheerful giver. She or he gives best who gives with a he gives best who gives with a smile.”smile.”

"The hunger for love is much more "The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”for bread.”

Mother TeresaMother Teresa

"Kind words can be short and easy "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”endless.”

"We need to find God, and God "We need to find God, and God cannot be found in noise and cannot be found in noise and restlessness.restlessness. God is the friend of God is the friend of silence. See how nature--trees and silence. See how nature--trees and flowers and grass--grow in silence. flowers and grass--grow in silence. See the stars, the moon, and the See the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence. The sun, how they move in silence. The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life."more we can give in our active life."

Charles de FoucauldCharles de FoucauldFormer Atheist, Soldier in French Army Former Atheist, Soldier in French Army Martyr and MonkMartyr and Monk

"As soon as I believed that "As soon as I believed that there was a God, I there was a God, I understood that I could not understood that I could not do otherwise than to live do otherwise than to live only for him...” only for him...” August 14, August 14, 19011901

Charles de FoucauldCharles de Foucauld "To live, in the Sahara, the "To live, in the Sahara, the

hidden life of Jesus, not in hidden life of Jesus, not in order to preach, but to live in order to preach, but to live in solitude the poverty and the solitude the poverty and the humble work of Jesus.” humble work of Jesus.” April April 19041904

"My mission must be the "My mission must be the mission of goodness. In mission of goodness. In seeing me, people should say seeing me, people should say to one another: 'Since this to one another: 'Since this man is so good, his religion man is so good, his religion must be good'."must be good'."19091909

Charles de FoucauldCharles de Foucauld "Our self-abasement is the most "Our self-abasement is the most

powerful means that we have to powerful means that we have to unite us to Jesus and do good to unite us to Jesus and do good to souls."souls."Letter to Marie de Bondy, Letter to Marie de Bondy, Dec. 1, 1916.Dec. 1, 1916.

"If the grain of wheat that has "If the grain of wheat that has fallen into the ground does not fallen into the ground does not die, it remains alone. If it dies, it die, it remains alone. If it dies, it bears much fruit. I have not bears much fruit. I have not died, and so I remain alone... died, and so I remain alone... Pray for my conversion so that in Pray for my conversion so that in dying I may bear fruit.” dying I may bear fruit.” Letter to Letter to Suzanne Perre written shortly Suzanne Perre written shortly before his death.before his death.

“A quarrel between friends, when made up, adds a new tie to friendship.”

“Be who you are and be that well.”

“Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections.”

“Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.”

“Friendships begun in this world will be taken up again, never to be broken off.”

“Have patience with all things, But, first of all with yourself.”

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.”

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.”

“Reputation is rarely proportioned to virtue.”

“Those who love to be feared, fear to be loved, and they themselves are more afraid than anyone, for whereas other men fear only them, they fear everyone.”

“When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to break them, but bend them with gentleness and time.”

Francis believed that the best way to bring Protestants in Switzerland back to the fold was through gentleness and love, not through condemnation and harshness.

Francis de Sales also sought overall to bring piety and devotion to the people/the masses -- as opposed to something that was only for monks, nuns and religious. All are called to be holy.

The The UniversalUniversal Call to Call to HolinessHoliness

Saints in ScriptureSaints in ScriptureA charge commonly leveled against A charge commonly leveled against

asking the saints for their intercession is asking the saints for their intercession is that this violates the sole mediatorship of that this violates the sole mediatorship of Christ, which Paul discusses: "For there is Christ, which Paul discusses: "For there is one God, and there is one mediator one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5).Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5).

But Paul But Paul sayssays right before this that right before this that Christians Christians shouldshould intercede: "First of all, intercede: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.” (1 Tim. 2:1–4).every way.” (1 Tim. 2:1–4).

Praying for Each OtherPraying for Each Other Elsewhere Paul directly asks others to Elsewhere Paul directly asks others to

pray for him (Rom. 15:30–32, Eph. pray for him (Rom. 15:30–32, Eph. 6:18–20, Col. 4:3, 1 Thess. 5:25, 2 6:18–20, Col. 4:3, 1 Thess. 5:25, 2 Thess. 3:1), and he assured them that Thess. 3:1), and he assured them that he was praying for them as well (2 he was praying for them as well (2 Thess. 1:11): “Thess. 1:11): “To this end, we always To this end, we always pray for you, that our God may make pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith…”and every effort of faith…”

Most importantly, Jesus himself Most importantly, Jesus himself required us to pray for others, and not required us to pray for others, and not only for those who asked us to do so only for those who asked us to do so (Matt. 5:44): (Matt. 5:44): "You have heard that it "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you”who persecute you”

Interceding for Each Interceding for Each OtherOther Jesus regularly healed/acted for one person Jesus regularly healed/acted for one person based on based on

another person’s faithanother person’s faith (e.g., Matt. 8:13, (e.g., Matt. 8:13, 15:28, Mark 9:17–29, Luke 8:49–55). 15:28, Mark 9:17–29, Luke 8:49–55). And it goes without saying that those And it goes without saying that those in heaven, being free of the body and in heaven, being free of the body and the distractions of this life, have even the distractions of this life, have even greater confidence and devotion to greater confidence and devotion to God than anyone on earth.God than anyone on earth.

And Jesus said to the Roman centurion, "You may go; And Jesus said to the Roman centurion, "You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you." And at as you have believed, let it be done for you." And at that very hour that very hour his servanthis servant was healed.” (Mt. 8: 13). was healed.” (Mt. 8: 13).

Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughterher daughter was healed from that hour. (Mt. 15: 28). was healed from that hour. (Mt. 15: 28).

Interceding for Each Interceding for Each OtherOther

"Teacher"Teacher, , I have brought to you my sonI have brought to you my son possessed by possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so." [Jesus said] “Bring but they were unable to do so." [Jesus said] “Bring him to me." They brought the boy to him…"How him to me." They brought the boy to him…"How long has this been happening to him?" The father long has this been happening to him?" The father replied, "Since childhood. It has often thrown him replied, "Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." anything, have compassion on us and help us." Jesus said to him, " “Everything is possible to one Jesus said to him, " “Everything is possible to one who has faith." Then the who has faith." Then the boy's father cried out, "I do boy's father cried out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!"believe, help my unbelief!" Jesus…rebuked the Jesus…rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I unclean spirit and said to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter command you: come out of him and never enter him again!" Shouting and throwing the boy into him again!" Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out…” convulsions, it came out…”

Mark 9Mark 9

Note: Jesus heals the boy because of the Note: Jesus heals the boy because of the father’sfather’s faith. faith.

Saints in ScriptureSaints in Scripture Scripture suggests that there are Scripture suggests that there are

some who have some who have greater faith greater faith than than some (“Oh, ye of some (“Oh, ye of littlelittle faith.” or, “I faith.” or, “I have rarely seen such have rarely seen such greatgreat faith in faith in Israel.” “Woman, Israel.” “Woman, greatgreat is your is your faith…”).faith…”).

Those in heaven who offer to God Those in heaven who offer to God our prayers aren’t just angels, but our prayers aren’t just angels, but humans as well. John sees that "the humans as well. John sees that "the twenty-four elders [the leaders of twenty-four elders [the leaders of the people of God in heaven] fell the people of God in heaven] fell down before the Lamb, each down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (Rev. 5:8).prayers of the saints" (Rev. 5:8).

Interceding for Each Interceding for Each OtherOther

In a particular way, God In a particular way, God answers and hears the prayers answers and hears the prayers of the righteous. of the righteous.

The Letter of James The Letter of James states: "The prayer of a states: "The prayer of a righteous man has righteous man has great great powerpower in its effects." (James in its effects." (James 5:16). 5:16). Christians in heaven are Christians in heaven are the most righteous, since they the most righteous, since they have been made perfect to have been made perfect to stand in God’s presence (Heb. stand in God’s presence (Heb. 12:22-23), than anyone on 12:22-23), than anyone on earth, meaning their prayers earth, meaning their prayers are even more effective.are even more effective.

Praying With Us and For Praying With Us and For UsUs

Not only do those in heaven Not only do those in heaven pray with us, they also pray pray with us, they also pray forfor us. us.

In the book of Revelation, we In the book of Revelation, we read: "[An] angel came and read: "[An] angel came and stood at the altar [in heaven] stood at the altar [in heaven] with a golden censer; and he with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to was given much incense to mingle mingle with the prayers of all with the prayers of all the saintsthe saints. . . . . and the smoke . and the smoke of the incense rose with of the incense rose with the the prayers of the saintsprayers of the saints from from the hand of the angel before the hand of the angel before God" (Rev. 8:3-4). God" (Rev. 8:3-4).

The Ultimate Mark of a Saint: LOVE!

“Let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)

LOVEThe Mark of a Saint

I Corinthians 13

“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrong-doing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

“If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

I Corinthians 13: 3

“I urge you therefore to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”

-- Romans 12: 1-2

“Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a person will reap what he sows, because the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit.”

Galatians 6: 7-8

“…do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, ‘Be holy because I am holy.’” 1 Peter 2: 14-16

Saints glorify God in their bodies

“But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.”

I Cor. 6: 17--ff

Saints Glorify God in Speech

“In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how a small fire can set a huge forest ablaze. The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. . .no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water?”

Letter of James 3

“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits…”

James 3

Saints Glorify God in Speech Colossians 3

“Put to death the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way.

But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator…”

I Peter 2

“Christ suffered for you, and left you an example to have you follow in his footsteps. He did no wrong; no deceit was found in his mouth. When he was insulted, he returned no insult. When he was made to suffer, he did not counter with threats…”

Saints Build Up The Body of Christ

1 Peter chapter 2 “Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language. Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved.”

Saints Build Up the Body of Christ

• Ephesians chapter 5

“Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes - these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.”

• Proverbs chapter 10

“Righteous people know the kind thing to say, but the wicked are always saying things that hurt.”

Saints live a Sacramental and Marian Life

• A common thread with all the saints is their tremendous devotion to the Eucharist, Confession, Mary and the Holy Father.

• All four of these keep a person humble before God.

1. The Eucharist feeds us with the bread from heaven -- Christ himself.

2. Confession keeps us humble before God.3. Devotion to Mary keeps the saint at the

feet of Mary, learning what it means to bear Christ, love Christ and follow Christ to the end.

4. Fidelity to the Holy Father keeps the saint rooted in the teachings of faith -- guiding them through the moral challenges of this life.

Building Up the Body of Christ

• Philippians 4:8, “Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.”

• 1 Thessalonians 5:11"encourage one another and build each other up."

Luke 22:28-30Luke 22:28-30Jesus said, “You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

[Jesus said] “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

-- Revelation 3:21-- Revelation 3:21

[St. Paul]: “Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent [to constitute] the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels?”

-- 1 Corinthians 6:2-3-- 1 Corinthians 6:2-3

Revelation 20:4Revelation 20:4

“Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I [saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

Succinct Saintly Summary Succinct Saintly Summary Points Points

1.1. All are called to be saints. A saint is a believer in Christ All are called to be saints. A saint is a believer in Christ whose faith is active (works). He/she is someone who whose faith is active (works). He/she is someone who perseveres to the end in holiness.perseveres to the end in holiness.

2.2. The Church has canonized saints over the centuries -- these The Church has canonized saints over the centuries -- these men and women model for us what it means to follow Christ.men and women model for us what it means to follow Christ.

3.3. The saints intercede for us in heaven and we benefit by The saints intercede for us in heaven and we benefit by asking for their intercession.asking for their intercession.

4.4. Intercession on behalf of another person is scriptural.Intercession on behalf of another person is scriptural.5.5. Christ is still the sole mediator between us and the Father, Christ is still the sole mediator between us and the Father,

but Christ (just as he did here on earth) shares his mission but Christ (just as he did here on earth) shares his mission with his followers.with his followers.

6.6. The greatest saintly intercessor for us, and the one who The greatest saintly intercessor for us, and the one who knows Jesus the best, is Mary.knows Jesus the best, is Mary.

7.7. The Church is made up of the Church militant The Church is made up of the Church militant (saints/believers on earth), the Church suffering (saints/believers on earth), the Church suffering (saints/believers in purgatory), and the Church triumphant (saints/believers in purgatory), and the Church triumphant (saints/believers in heaven).(saints/believers in heaven).