Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches at Kintore College on November 1, 2021, solemnity of all saints.

Psalm 145, 10-11.  ”All Thy works praise Thee, O Lord, and Thy saints give thanks unto Thee: they show the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power.”

Today’s Office of reading in the breviary, from St. Bernard of Clairvaux: “The Saints have no need of honor from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs…. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning” (Disc. 2, Opera Omnia Cisterc. 5, 364ff.)

How inflamed am I to be a saint? Acts 5, 15: They even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.

People who passed within Peter’s shadow were healed, not by Peter’s shadow, but by God’s power working through Peter. These miracles of healing attracted people to the early Church and confirmed the truth of the teachings of the Apostles and the fact that the power of God was with them.

The shadow of his person healed them. Grant that we may cast the right shadow.

Music: Handel Opera Rinaldo, aria “Lascia ch’io pianga”, arranged for guitar by Bert Alink.

Thumbnail, Peter healing with the casting shadow, by Massacio, Milan, c. 1425.

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https://www.youtube.com/c/EricNicolai/videos

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