The Rev. Tom Niehaus of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Faribault shared a message for All Saints' Day about how the scriptures tell us a great number of people will stand before the throne of God, praising him in heaven. 

“On Nov. 1 each year the Church takes time to recognize this ‘great multitude which no one could count, from every nation, race, people and tongue,’ this day is also known as All Saints Day," Niehaus said in the church bulletin. "These Saints were men, women and children who lived their lives for Christ in a most pleasing way.

Niehaus spoke about three Holy Ones who might be new to parishioners, "but their lives can give us a great encouragement to live holy lives.”

First is Blessed Chiara Badano, who was diagnosed with bone cancer and refused treatment to offer up her pain to the Lord. She was beatified on Sept. 25, 2010. Her feast day is on Oct. 29. 

The next saint Niehaus told the parish family about was Blessed Franz Jagerstatter. Living during the time of the Nazi takeover in Germany, he refused to fight for the corrupt power and was sentenced to death.

 “The movie ‘A Hidden LIfe,’ depicts quite well the life of this extraordinary man declared a Martyr in the Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007," Niehaus said in the bulletin.

His feast day is celebrated May 21. 

Finally, there is Blessed Michael McGivney, who was the founder of the Knights of Columbus.

“This bright light in the Catholic Church in the United States did not have long to shine, for Father McGivney died from pneumonia at the age of 38 in 1890,” Niehaus said. 

In this world where it can be so hard to see the will of God and follow it, we have our saints to look up to, who gave their lives in devotion of the Lord, he said.