Beautiful Things

I've learned in the past few months that there is so much beauty in the world around us. It's everywhere. Everywhere you look there is something precious, something so beautiful. I see beauty in life, in children with their parents, in my friends, in music, in the bible, in my faith as a whole, it's all so beautiful to me.

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Tonight, tonight was a night where I saw beauty in the faith of many many people. Today for the Catholic faith was All Saints and All Souls Day, a day of Holy obligation. Today was also a mass and meal day, which usually has around 40-60 people in attendance. Tonight, as we walked into Father Mike's house, shoes were sprawled a good ten feet up to the door, and the living room outside of the chapel was packed. We got in and realized that not only was the room outside the chapel full, but the chapel was full. By the time mass started there people standing shoulder to shoulder in the living room and extended down the stairs into the basement and through the entry way and up the stairs to the house.
The whole collection of people celebrating their faith and celebrating All Saints Day was overwhelmingly beautiful. The homily tonight also got me.

You know how sometimes people say things that just... kinda hit you in the gut and really make you think? Well. Fr. Mike succeeded tonight in knocking the wind outta me with his message. In essence, he explained the purpose behind celebrating All Saints Day-- because it's not just the Saints like St. Mary, St. Joseph, St. Benedict etc. Everyone who has been baptized and died are considered saints too. He more or less told us that we are always surrounded by people who have already ran our race, who have already gone through what we are going through, and that they're cheering us on in our lives every day. It was amazing.

I'm constantly being reminded of His grace and His goodness.
I find it truly beautiful.

Tonight, as I celebrated All Saints Day, I especially prayed for my Grandma Violet. I never had the chance to meet her, but I've heard the most amazing stories about her, and if there's anyone I want standing by my side as I struggle and triumph, it's her.

Always,
H.Eilene