Saints Among Us
This article is an excerpt from the November 2026 Venite.
As autumn deepens and the Church approaches the sacred triduum of All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day, we are invited into a holy work of remembrance. These days are more than commemorations of the past. They draw us into a deeper awareness of God’s communion that stretches across time and eternity. In them, we can glimpse another triduum of saints: the saints who have gone before us into the eternal light and love of God, the saints who walk among us now, and the saints who will one day follow after us.
When I use the word “saint,” I do not mean only those formally recognized by the Church. I mean all who seek to follow Jesus in the way of love. Saints are the faithful souls whose lives, whether famous or unnoticed, bear witness to God’s grace. They are the grandparents who taught us to pray, the friend who stood beside us in grief, the volunteer who quietly serves others, the newcomer discovering faith, and the child whose compassion reveals the kingdom of God.
During this season, we remember the saints who have departed this life. Yet in the Christian understanding, remembrance is more than recalling a memory. To remember is to render the past vivid in the present. We bring into view those whose faith shaped us, and we recognize that they are not lost to God but live in the eternal love and light of Christ.
At the same time, we give thanks for the saints who walk beside us today. Our fellow disciples encourage us, challenge us, and help us persevere. Through worship, service, friendship, and shared ministry, they remind us that faith is not a solitary journey but a communal one.
Finally, we turn our gaze toward the saints yet to come. Future generations will inherit the faith we practice today. The prayers we offer, the justice we seek, the mercy we show, and the love we embody will help shape their understanding of Christ. In remembering the past, we also imagine the future and consider what witness we will leave behind.
The writer of Hebrews speaks of a “great cloud of witnesses” surrounding us (Hebrews 12:1). These saints, past, present, and future, remind us that we are never alone. Together, they encourage us to move forward in faith, trusting God’s promises and continuing Christ’s work of love and service in the world. Surrounded by such a communion, may we run our race with courage, hope, and joy.
In Love & Service Bound,
Aelred Bernard+
Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
