Celebrating Beauty: All Saint's and All Soul's Day

An ongoing series about how to add a little beauty to our favorite feasts and seasons

On November 1st and 2nd, we celebrate the feasts of All Saint's and All Soul's days. On these days we celebrate all our brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone before us in faith, both the canonized and uncanonized saints and all the holy souls in Purgatory. These are some really exciting feast days because the saints are amazing examples of how to live a Christian life. They have walked the way before us and want to help us follow Jesus too.

So what do the saints have to do with beauty? Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said,

“I did once say that to me, art and the saints are the greatest apologetics for our faith.”

A life beautifully lived has the same, if not more power to change hearts as a beautiful piece of art, music, or writing. The Pope emeritus also says,

Yet, the beauty of Christian life is even more effective than art and imagery in the communication of the Gospel message. In the end, love alone is worthy of faith, and proves credible. The lives of the saints and martyrs demonstrate a singular beauty which fascinates and attracts, because a Christian life lived in fullness speaks without words. We need men and women whose lives are eloquent, and who know how to proclaim the Gospel with clarity and courage, with transparency of action, and with the joyful passion of charity.

The saints are beautiful because they have conformed their lives to Christ and lived excellent lives, lives of joy and virtue. Joy and virtue are attractive. Take St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) for example. Most people know her as a wrinkly little old lady wrapped in a white sari who served the poorest of the poor. She wouldn't win a beauty contest, but people were attracted to her. They came from all over to work with her and the Missionaries of Charity. There are countless photographs of her in the Internet. What attracted people to Mother Teresa? It was her holiness. Her face radiated kindness, joy, and love. She and her sisters served tirelessly, but their love for the poor flowed from their love of Christ. That immense love is powerful. That life lived for love of God and neighbor is compelling because we were made for God and when we see Him in someone, we want to be with that person. Joy and virtue are attractive because they are of God, the on for whom we were made.

Let's Celebrate!

Here's a list of some beautiful things you can use to celebrate the saints! We've included the link to a playlist of beautiful music by and about the saints, a list of beautiful books by and about saints, a list of our favorite movies and media about the saints, and some of our favorite art featuring saints. We would also suggest researching some prayers by or to your favorite saints, because there are few things more beautiful than holy friendship! Let the saints lead you closer to Jesus who teaches us all how to live beautiful lives.

Book List:

Here's a list of some of our favorite books by and about the saints. Want to add to the list? Let us know your favorites in the comments!

Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales
The Confessions by St. Augustine of Hippo
The Gospels by Sts. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux
Conformity to the Will of God by St. Alphonsus de Liguori
The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ by St Alphonsus de Liguori
Letters to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and Hebrews by St. Paul
Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila
The City of God by St. Augustine of Hippo
Crossing the Threshold of Hope by Pope St. John Paul II
The Secret of the Rosary by St. Louis De Montfort
The Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius of Loyola
Divine Mercy in My Soul: The Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska by St. Maria Faustina Kowalska
The Dialogue by St. Catherine of Siena
Saint Francis of Assisi by G.K. Chesterton
Saint Thomas Aquinas by G.K. Chesterton
Man and Woman He Created Them by Pope St. John Paul II
True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis De Montfort
33 Days to Merciful Love by Fr. Michael Gaitley
33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley
Aquinas's Shorter Summa: Saint Thomas's Own Concise Version of His Summa Theologica by St. Thomas Aquinas
Instructing Beginners in the Faith by St. Augustine of Hippo
My Sisters the Saints by Colleen Carrol- Campbell
I Believe in Love by Fr. Jean C.J. D'Elbee
The Way; Furrow; and The Forge by St. Josemaria Escriva
Hail, Holy Queen by Scott Hahn
Apologia Pro Vita Sua by St. John Henry Newman
St. Gianna Molla: Wife, Mother, and Doctor by Pietro Molla and Elio Guerriero
On Being Human: Reflections on Life and Living by Ven. Fulton Sheen
Woman by Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross)
Come Be My Light by St. Teresa of Calcutta
Where There Is Love, There Is God by St. Teresa of Calcutta
Joan of Arc by Mark Twain
A Year With the Saints by Mark Water

Playlist:

The link to our saints playlist is here!

Movies and Other Media:

Pope John Paul II (2006, on Formed.org)
The Letters (2014)
The Bible and the Virgin Mary (on Formed.org)
Seelos: Tireless Intercessor (on Formed.org)
Divine Mercy: The Second Greatest Story Ever Told (on Formed.org)
Formed Now!: All Saint’s Day (on Formed.org)
Catholicism: The Pivotal Players Series (from Word on Fire)
Francis of Assisi: Sign of Contradiction (on Formed.org)
Restless Heart (on Formed.org)
All or Nothing: Sr. Clare Crockett (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0LKZm2BqZo)
Our God’s Brother: The Story of St. Albert Chmielowski (on Formed.org)
Mary of Nazareth (on Formed.org)
St. Barbara (on Formed.org)
Edith Stein: The Seventh Chamber (on Formed.org)
Joan of Arc (on Formed.org)
Ignatius of Loyola (on Formed.org)