Feast of All Saints of the Order of Prémontré and All Saints of the Canons Regular

In the Norbertine Calendar, today is the feast of all the saints of our Order as well as all the saints who were Canons Regular of one kind or another. The brothers placed images of our canonised saints around the chapel and lit candles before them. Our canonry is also lucky to have the relics of several Premonstratensian saints and beati, and these were placed on the gradines either side of the Blessed Sacrament.In this way we are reminded, by the physical remains of the saints whom we honour, of that great multitude of saints in Heaven spoken of by St John in the Book of Revelation, those who stand before the throne of God, "who are come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. 7:14) Surely this verse has a special resonance with us Norbertines who are privileged to wear a white habit; for we are all called to follow in their footsteps and be saints too - there is room in Heaven for all of us! There must be so many of our Order whose names are known only to God but who now number among the saints and intercede for us all. Today we thank God for their lives and their prayers, both those whose heroic virtue has been recognised by Holy Mother Church and those who are not canonised but who reign with Christ in Heaven. May they all pray for us!