All Saints Day – Living the Beatitudes at St Brigid’s

All Saints Day is celebrated around the world each year on November 1. At Mass on this day, we will hear the familiar Gospel reading from Matthew 5, known as The Beatitudes.

As Jesus shared his Sermon on the Mount, he invited his listeners to look beyond the world’s ideas of success and to recognise instead the blessings that come from humility, mercy, gentleness, and peace. These words continue to speak powerfully to us today at St Brigid’s, where we strive to live with compassion and integrity in the spirit of our Benedictine charism.

Grounded in prayer and community, we are reminded that the Beatitudes call us to be peacemakers and to stand with those who are poor, vulnerable, or treated unfairly. Through small daily acts of kindness, justice, and service, we bring the light of Christ to others—just as St Brigid did through her hospitality and care for those in need.

When we look at a tree, we are reminded of the Beatitudes taking root and bearing fruit in our lives. The roots symbolise our faith and connection to God; the trunk represents the strength that grows through prayer and community; and the branches and leaves reflect the many ways we reach out to others in love and service. Like a flourishing tree, a life lived through the Beatitudes gives shade, peace, and shelter to all around it.

Pope Leo has reminded us this year to “seek justice for all those who, because of their particular circumstances, are so in need of our intervention.” When we live out the values of the Beatitudes in our classrooms, playgrounds, and homes, we answer that call, building a community of hope, peace, and love.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.