Preachrblog

  "For all the saints who from their labors rest, Who thee, by faith, before the world confessed, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest .  Alleluia!"   One of my favorite hymns, and maybe yours too, on one of my favorite church festivals.   A blessed All Saints' Day to you.   What is a saint ?  And who are all the saints?   This day has its origins in church tradition going all the way back to 360 AD , when the church in Syria observed the Festival of All Martyrs .  And so the church has a special place in her heart, and in our history, for those who confessed the faith unto death .  We hold them in high regard as examples of steadfastness under persecution .     But more than just the martyrs, we remember today all those Christians who have died in the faith .  As our collect says, the "faithful people of all times and places – one holy communion the mystical bod y of Christ "  And so that includes all of our l...