On All Saints' Day, we are called, not so much to remember the numerous saints officially canonised by the Church, but all unnamed saints in heaven, that is, the great multitude of saints. These are whom John, in the Book of Revelation, is talking about - the huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language.

While it is good to praise the merits of those saints we know by their respective canonisations, on All Saints' Day, it is precisely celebrated to praise God in the examples of normal, ordinary, but good and holy people who have gone before us.

For we shall be like them in the future; for every saint has a past, that is, a sinner; whereas, every sinner has a future, that is, a saint. In order for us to move towards "sainthood," we are called to live out the Beatitudes. Can we be more poor in spirit, gentle, merciful, pure, peaceful, hunger and thirst for what is right?

It may not be easy to live out the Beatitudes, but we can try. We can be a little bit more gentle, merciful, peaceful, and pure each time. Never give up trying! Each of us is a work in progress, that is, a progression towards becoming saints, albeit ordinary but good and holy people.