St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish Grand Prairie, Texas
Gospel Meditations
November 1, 2026
All Saints’ Day
Matthew 5:1-12
At the end of her short life, my hero, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, found herself in a curious position. Audaciously, she was convinced that she would become a great saint and would be loved by many after her death. At the same time, she insisted that she was weak, impatient, and ordinary. She became arguably the greatest saint in modern times. How is it possible that an ordinary and imperfect person can also be a great saint?
On this All Saints’ Day, Jesus overturns our assumptions about holiness. He says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The blessed are not the impressive or the self-sufficient, but the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, and the persecuted. These are not heroic traits by normal standards. They are signs of a heart that has learned to rely on God rather than itself. That’s what St. Thérèse, and all the saints, are all about.
All Saints’ Day is not a celebration of spiritual elites. Rather, it announces what grace can do in our ordinary lives. The saints are not those who avoid weakness or suffering, but those who allow these things to deepen their trust. What good news for us! The smaller and weaker we are, the more qualified we are to be great saints.
— Father John Muir
©LPi
1 de noviembre de 2026
Todos los Santos
Mateo 5:1-12
Todos los Santos
Mateo 5:1-12
“¿Quién subirá hasta el monte del Señor? ¿Quién podrá entrar en su recinto santo? El de corazón limpio y manos puras, y que no jura en falso” (Salmo 23). El salmo nos hace la pregunta y él mismo da la respuesta. El papa Francisco, durante su pontificado, nos recordaba constantemente que todos estamos llamados a la santidad. Por nuestro bautismo, estamos llamados a una profunda perfección en el amor. Los santos vivieron ese camino de amor. La gracia de los sacramentos, especialmente el de la Reconciliación y la Eucaristía, les bastaba para seguir las bienaventuranzas del Evangelio de hoy, viviendo un camino de santidad. No es fácil, por supuesto, pero sí es posible poniendo siempre su esperanza en el Señor.
La santidad implica algo importante: ser sencillos y coherentes con el Evangelio, tratando todos los días de lograrlo. Las Bienaventuranzas encierran el secreto de un nuevo modo de ser y de vivir, y solo a base de oración y entrega se logra ese camino de santidad. El mundo de hoy indica un camino totalmente contrario al mensaje del Evangelio: riqueza, viajes, moda y confort, olvidando que todo eso es pasajero y se queda aquí. “Los santos y los beatos son los testigos más autorizados de la esperanza cristiana, porque la han vivido plenamente en su existencia, entre alegrías y sufrimientos, poniendo en práctica las Bienaventuranzas que Jesús predicó y que hoy resuenan en la liturgia. Las Bienaventuranzas evangélicas son, en efecto, el camino de la santidad” (Papa Francisco, 01-11-2020).
©LPi
PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Parish Office will be closed on Nov 2nd.
All Souls' Day Masses: 6pm English & 7:30pm Spanish
All Saint's Presentation
All Confirmation II students are required to participate in the Saints Project Presentations and displays on Sunday, November 1st (The Solemnity of All Saints)
English-speaking students should arrive at Trinh Hall at 9:45 a.m. for setup, with presentations and displays starting from 10–10:45 a.m., followed by the 11 a.m. Mass.
Spanish-speaking students should arrive at 11:45 a.m. for setup, with presentations and displays from 12–12:45 p.m., followed by the 1 p.m. Mass. Please refer to the instructions in your student’s folder for additional details.
Please remember to sign in and sign-out after your presentation.
Parishioners attending the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses are warmly invited to visit the displays after Mass and learn more about the Saints and encourage our students as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Spring.
KOC Thanksgiving Turkeys
Let the KC’s help with Thanksgiving this year. The Knights are offering lightly smoked, fully cooked smoker roasted turkeys this year. Pre-order only. Cost is $105 per turkey. (15lbs pre-cooked weight.) Delivery or pickup will be arranged. Deadline to order is Nov 17th. To order email: kcturkey27@gmail.com
Vocations Awareness Week
Join us in celebrating vocations during this week by intentionally praying for vocations, thanking our clergy members, religious brothers & sisters, and encouraging virtuous young men and women to be open to the Lord’s desire for their lives, by nominating them in Casting the Net.
Everyone who is nominated will receive a letter from our bishop, congratulating them and inviting them to consider formally discerning their calling, as well as resources and discernment events that could help them. Nominating them does not commit them, it is just an invitation to discern where Jesus Christ is calling them to holiness.
More Information
PRAY FOR VOCATIONS
Heavenly Father, At the moment of our creation, you put into our hearts a calling to serve you and our neighbor. We give you thanks for the unique way in which you have called so many and now we come before you humbly asking you to give a renewed courage to the young men and women of the Diocese of Dallas. Give them the fortitude to speak your Word with boldness, to serve at your altar with reverence, and to make your love present with abounding mercy. May they answer the call to priestly and religious life with a zeal for souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
All Confirmation II students are required to participate in the Saints Project Presentations and displays on Sunday, November 1st (The Solemnity of All Saints)
English-speaking students should arrive at Trinh Hall at 9:45 a.m. for setup, with presentations and displays starting from 10–10:45 a.m., followed by the 11 a.m. Mass.
Spanish-speaking students should arrive at 11:45 a.m. for setup, with presentations and displays from 12–12:45 p.m., followed by the 1 p.m. Mass. Please refer to the instructions in your student’s folder for additional details.
Please remember to sign in and sign-out after your presentation.
Parishioners attending the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses are warmly invited to visit the displays after Mass and learn more about the Saints and encourage our students as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Spring.
KOC Thanksgiving Turkeys
Let the KC’s help with Thanksgiving this year. The Knights are offering lightly smoked, fully cooked smoker roasted turkeys this year. Pre-order only. Cost is $105 per turkey. (15lbs pre-cooked weight.) Delivery or pickup will be arranged. Deadline to order is Nov 17th. To order email: kcturkey27@gmail.com
Vocations Awareness Week
Join us in celebrating vocations during this week by intentionally praying for vocations, thanking our clergy members, religious brothers & sisters, and encouraging virtuous young men and women to be open to the Lord’s desire for their lives, by nominating them in Casting the Net.
Everyone who is nominated will receive a letter from our bishop, congratulating them and inviting them to consider formally discerning their calling, as well as resources and discernment events that could help them. Nominating them does not commit them, it is just an invitation to discern where Jesus Christ is calling them to holiness.
More Information
PRAY FOR VOCATIONS
Heavenly Father, At the moment of our creation, you put into our hearts a calling to serve you and our neighbor. We give you thanks for the unique way in which you have called so many and now we come before you humbly asking you to give a renewed courage to the young men and women of the Diocese of Dallas. Give them the fortitude to speak your Word with boldness, to serve at your altar with reverence, and to make your love present with abounding mercy. May they answer the call to priestly and religious life with a zeal for souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
