Just who ARE all these holy men and women we call saints?

 As I do every year on All Saints Day, I'm posting John Becker's beautiful and beloved Litany of the Saints.  True to the spirit of All Saints Day, the litany's refrain here pleads "All you holy men and women, pray for us!"  Today the church celebrates all the holy men and women from our families and friends and through history who are with the Lord now, forever in peace.  So, who are the holy women and men you've known in your life whom you'll remember in this prayer?  

 

To help us remember all the saints we've known, met and loved in our own lives, I composed this list for a homily a few years back: it's lengthy - but I'll bet you'll recognize most if not all of these saints in your life.  And I hope you'll find it helpful in preparing to pray Becker's litany which follows after...

I thank you, Lord for all the saints,
    for all the holy women and men
        I've known in my own life...
I praise and thank you for those, Lord:
    who gave me life...
    who loved me... 

    who rocked me in their arms...
    who raised me...      

    who told me the story of Jesus...
    who brought me to church...
    who raised me in the ways of faith...
    who taught me to pray...
    who understood me…
    who educated me...
    who protected me...
    who always had time for me...
    who dried my tears...
    who schooled me in fairness...
    who taught me to love my neighbor...
    who were patient with me... 

    who went without

        that I might have the best...
    who corrected me...
    who loved me when I did not love myself…
    who walked the extra mile with me…
    who sheltered me from harm...
    who taught me to tell the truth...
    who forgave me again and again and again...
    who gave me good example...
    who taught me right from wrong…
    who were honest with me…
    who believed in me...
    who shared their joy with me...
    who lifted my spirits when I was sad...
    who touched my soul in so many ways...
    who healed my heart...
    whose integrity shaped my standards...
    who always remembered
        - and did not forget me...
    who befriended me...
    who lived a faithful life...
    who inspired me...
    who sacrificed for me
    - in more ways than I know or remember…
    who shaped and helped me make
        my best memories...
    whose wisdom was born of the Spirit...
    who kept my secrets...
    who comforted me...
    who encouraged me...
    who challenged me...
    who defended me...
    who chastised me...
    who consoled me…
    whose lives modeled fidelity...
    whose courage made me brave...
    who were there for me
        through thick and thin...
    who taught me how to hope...
    who trusted me...
    who took my side…
    who taught me to care for others…
    who nurtured my gifts and talents...
    who had my back...
    who gave me a second chance
        - and many, many more…
    who were my rock and refuge...
    who cared for me when I was sick...
    who helped me become the person I am...
    who prayed for me and prayed for me
        - and prayed for me some more...
    who spent their whole lives loving me...
 

Such as these have been my saints
    the saints in my own life, Lord,
the holy men and women
    who’ve been your gift to me
and for whom, now, I give you, Lord
    all glory, thanks and praise…
 

Help me be a saint like them
    in my own day, in my own ways,
in your eyes, Lord, and in the lives
     of all the saints around me...

 Amen.

 LITANY OF THE SAINTS 
        by John D. Becker,  from OCP 

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(Verse 6 here includes the intercessions sung at the Easter Vigil when adults are being baptized.)

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

1.
Mary and Joseph, pray for us.
Michael and all angels, pray for us.
Anna, Joachim, Elizabeth, pray for us.
Elijah, Moses, John the Baptist, pray for us.
Isaac, Sarah, Abraham, pray for us.
Jacob, Joseph, Samuel, pray for us.
Ruth, David and Solomon, pray for us.
Isaiah, Jeremiah, pray for us.
All you holy men and women, pray for us.

2.
Peter, Paul, Andrew, pray for us.
James, John, and all apostles, pray for us.
Mary Magdalene, Veronica, pray for us.
Barnabas, Matthias, pray for us.
Stephen, Philip, and Cornelius, pray for us.
Prisca and Aquila, pray for us.
Timothy and Titus, pray for us.
Linus, Cletus, and Clement,pray for us.
All you holy men and women, pray for us.

3.
Lawrence and Chrysogonus, pray for us.
Innocent, and Boniface, pray for us.
Hippolytus and Origen, pray for us.
Athanasius and Basil, pray for us.
Felicity, Perpetua, pray for us.
Cosmos and Damien, pray for us.
John Chrysostom, and Justin, pray for us.
Lucy, Agatha, and Agnes, pray for us.
All you holy men and women, pray for us.

4.
Jerome and Eusebius, pray for us.
Scholastica and Benedict, pray for us.
Ambrose, Monica, Augustine, pray for us.
Martin and Gregory, pray for us.
Clare, Francis, and Dominic, pray for us.
Francis Xavier, Ignatius, pray for us.
Elizabeth and Catherine, pray for us.
Louis and Wenceslaus, pray for us.
All you holy men and women, pray for us.

5.
Lord, be merciful, save your people.
From all evil, save your people.
From every sin, save your people.
From everlasting death, save your people.
By your incarnation, save your people.
By your death and resurrection, save your people.
By your gift of the Spirit, save your people.
Have mercy on us sinners, save your people.

Christ, hear us. Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.

6.
Lord, give new life, hear our prayer.
To these chosen, hear our prayer.
By the grace of baptism, hear our prayer.
O Jesus, Son of the living God, hear our prayer.
Send your Spirit, hear our prayer.
In its fullness, hear our prayer.
On your sons and daughters, hear our prayer.
Who believe and profess you, hear our prayer.

Christ, hear us. Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.

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