Awareness of God’s presence is a gift of faith. It is not enough to want to be good or to do good or to follow our conscience. First, we have to be aware of God’s presence. Then, all that we are becomes an orientation toward God.

St. Paul tells us that God’s presence is always with us, seeking our well-being. God’s presence is profoundly known when we incarnate this truth in our loving care of one another. In the Eucharist, we become what we receive; as we partake of this heavenly feast with Christ to transform the world. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.

The saints are a guide to holiness. The processes of beatification and canonization recognize the signs of heroic virtue, the sacrifice of one’s life in martyrdom, and certain cases where a life is constantly offered for others, even until death. Our churches are named for the saints and we seek to emulate their examples of faithfulness.

Offering thanksgiving proclaims hope in God. The theme for Respect Life Month, the month of October is, “Christ Our Hope: In Every Season of Life.” Through our Christian hope in the Resurrection, we are given the grace to persevere in faith.

Our relationship with God cannot be one that we turn on and off, that when we are in need, we seek Him. Our relationship with God is the fullness of life. Just as we are attentive to members of our families, our friends, so we also should be attentive to God.