We often refer to two different strains of Christian faith: Catholic and Protestant. These two traditions have very different understandings of saints. To Catholicism (such as Roman Catholics), saints are our intermediaries. They have been elevated by humanity for their godly and miraculous works. Protestantism (such as Presbyterians, Lutherans Baptists, etc.) has downplayed the role of saints in the church and in private devotion. To many, praying to saints is too “Roman”. Personally, I’m fond of the Reformation Era word “papish” but I digress!

Episcopalians believe both. Or, better, neither. We are part of a third tradition that is another strain of Christianity, known as Anglicanism. There are two other traditions (Orthodox and Pentecostalism) which have a similar “other” status in global Christianity. Phyllis Tickle postulates that a 6th strain is forming, currently called Emergence.

As Anglicans and Episcopalians, we have saints. But we don’t ordinarily pray that they intercede for us. We feel as if we can pray directly to GOD, thank you very much. However, saints aren’t nobodies. They are guides, leaders, and role models. They show us how to live a godly life.

In recent years, The Episcopal Church has expanded our list of saints greatly. Our list, now called Holy Women, Holy Men, is a broad and diverse collection of people.that have gone before, which includes many women, minorities, and figures from under-served countries and provinces. Our list represents the diversity found in our faith and is now much closer to embodying the beauty of Anglicanism than ever.

We often make All Saints’ Day about our personal saints–those people we’ve known personally that live a godly life no longer. Perhaps this year we take time to get to know all the saints. Then in January, we will celebrate the feast of our patron saint, Paul.

Saints aren’t remembered for their having died. For their friendliness. For their being a good coworker or friend. What makes a saint is that by looking at them, you can see GOD.

This week, let us remember all of those saints we have known and will know.