Msgr. Roger J. Landry
National Director, The Pontifical Mission Societies
Daily Reflection for November 1, 2025
Here is the video of today’s reflection.
The Youtube generated transcript for today’s reflection is:
I’m Monsignor Roger Landry, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies. Here on the grounds of the shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville, New York on All Saints Day, November 1st. This is a shrine that memorializes four great saints. St. Isaac Jogues, St. Renee Goupil, St. John LaLande, and St. Kateri Tekakwitha. The first three gave their lives here in the 1640s and the fourth was born here from the fruitful power of their blood which stained the soil here. And so on All Saints Day as we think about our call to become holy as God is Holy. What a great place for us to be. In today’s Gospel, Jesus shows us the path of holiness. This is the path of Christians. This is the path that missionaries seek to bring to the entire world so that people in this world and forever may experience the beatitude toward which Jesus points us in these sacred words. It starts off blessed are the poor in spirit. The world thinks that you have to be rich to be happy. Jesus says that your treasure has to be the kingdom. And when the kingdom is the object of the affections of the heart, then everything else becomes vain in comparison. Second, blessed are those who mourn. The world thinks you have to be the life of the party, constantly laughing, constant frivolity. Jesus says, blessed are those who are so sensitive that they weep over their sins and others pain. Blessed are the meek. Or the third, the world thinks you need to be strong in order to be happy. You have to have more nuclear weapons. You have to be able to finish fights that others imprudently start. Jesus says, “Blessed are those who are so strong that they don’t have to show their power.” That’s what meekness means. It’s the power of a black belt and taekwond do. Someone who would be able to annihilate an opponent but doesn’t have to prove it. That’s what Jesus showed us on the cross. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness with God, for holiness. The world thinks you’re fine when you don’t have a need in the world, when you’re stuffed, when you’ve got all your needs met. Jesus says, “No, we have to have a fire. We have to have a hunger. We have to have a real love for others.” Um, and especially for God. Blessed are the pure of heart. The world thinks you’re happy when all your sexual fantasies are fulfilled. Jesus says, “Blessed are you when you can see God in others and would never objectify them. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Not just peaceers, but those who go out to reconcile with the ones who have opposed them, but also who bring two waring parties together. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of holiness. Blessed are you when you’re persecuted for my name. Jesus says, world thinks we’re going to be happy when we’re elected most popular in our class. Jesus says there’s another way. Blessed are you when you’re so much like me that you solicit from others the same type of opposition that I did because people don’t yet want to have the truth. And finally, blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. We’re made in the image and likeness of God who is merciful and he wants us to be merciful 70 times seven. This is the path of holiness. This is what all the saints in heaven are praying for us to choose as our way. Today on the sacred spot, we ask saints Isaac, Renee, John, and St. Kateri Tekakwitha to pray for us that we may follow them along this holy path. Happy Solemnity. God bless you.
The Gospel reading on which the reflection was based on:
Gospel
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.”