From the Rule of St. Benedict: “On the feasts of Saints and on all festivals let the Office be performed as we have prescribed for Sundays, except that the Psalms, the antiphons and the lessons belonging to that particular day are to be said. . .” (Chapter 14)
From Praying with Saint Benedict:
Benedict instituted a practice that is still observed today: that is, the use of special. scriptures and psalms in honor of the saint who is celebrated on that day as a departure from the regular lessons that would usually be used. The number of psalms, lessons, and antiphons remains the same, but different ones, suggested specifically for their connections to the life of the commemorated saint, are read.
No standard criteria for honoring saints existed in Benedict’s time. Instead, local dioceses declared saints who should be honored. Centralization of the process of declaring saints occurred within the Roman church by Pope Gregory IX in 1234. Before then, the principle in effect for designating someone as a saint was that Christ should be known more intimately through the person honored, and that the holiness of the person was evident in their Christian practice and the inspiration for those around them to act likewise.
As someone who was not raised in a liturgical tradition, celebration of saints was a new concept for me. I have enjoyed learning about the lives of these exemplars whose extraordinary faith and service serves as an inspiration to us today.
The words of the hymn remind me that not all saints are in heaven. They are among us today. “By saints below and saints above, the Church in earth and heaven.”
Ephesians 3:18-19 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Improbable Benedictine 
Steve, I always get excited when I see your posts pop up. Thank you for encouraging us all to care about the things that matter.
LikeLike