Last Wednesday was the feast of All Saints. The Church celebrates a certain number of Saints whose lives provide a glimpse of God for the rest of the Church. But there are many, many more saints whose glimpse of God was only ever experienced by their family, friends and those with whom they worked. We all know people whose lives were steeped in genuine holiness. The feast of All Saints is an opportunity to remember, reflect and celebrate on the lives of all the baptised who have gone before us and whose lives were virtuous.

Thursday was the Feast of All Souls. This is not a feast of sadness, but one of great hope and confidence because we know that those who have died are in God’s care. God loves them and  like a good shepherd God will lead them to peace.