All Saints Day and All Souls
Day Mass at 7:30 PM each evening
On Tuesday, November 1, we
will celebrate the Feast Of All Saints because there are
countless men, women and children united with God in the heavenly glory for
whom we do not celebrate on any specific day throughout the Liturgical
year. Many of these would be our own parents and grand-parents who were
heroic women and men of faith. Today we keep their honorable memory. We
celebrate what the first reading calls "a great multitude that no one
could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm
branches in their hands" (Rev 7:9). This celebration gives us a peek into
our eternal destiny. The saints we celebrate were men and women like us. Where
we are now they used to be, and where they are now we hope to be someday. Today
the Church invites us to walk the path of the saints, the way of the
Beatitudes.
Question: "What are the
beatitudes?"
The
Beatitudes are the eight declarations of blessedness spoken by Jesus at the
beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, each beginning with "Blessed
are..." It is debated as to exactly how many beatitudes there are. Some
speak of seven, nine, or ten beatitudes, but the number appears to be eight
(verses 10-12 of being one beatitude). The Greek word translated “blessed”
means "spiritual well-being and
prosperity."
This refers to the deep joy of the soul. Those who experience the first aspect
of a beatitude (poor, mourn, meek, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure,
peacemakers, and persecuted) will also experience the second aspect of the
beatitude (kingdom of Heaven, comfort, inherit the earth, filled, mercy, see
God, called sons and daughters of God, inherit the kingdom of Heaven). The
blessed have a share in salvation and have entered the kingdom of God,
experiencing a foretaste of heaven. The Beatitudes describe the ideal
disciple and his or her rewards, both present and future.
On
Wednesday, November 2, we are celebrating All Souls' Day, also
known as the "Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed." On
Tuesday, we will gather to commemorate All Saints' Day. Since both of these
liturgical celebrations concern the departed, some may ask: "What is the
difference between these two days?" On All Saints' day, we commemorate
those who are in Heaven, those who are presently enjoying the beatified vision
of God in their eternal glory. On All Souls' day, we remember those who have
departed from this world and may not be perfectly cleansed or have not yet
fully atoned for their past transgression. These departed souls remain in
Purgatory. To assist them so that they may be freed from purgatory, we, their
spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ, can help them through our prayers and
most importantly, through the sacrifice of the Mass. Please remember to
inscribe the names of those you wish to be remembered during November into our
holy souls book.
Resettlement Bazaar -
Please remember that the resettlement Christmas bazaar is on November 12th
in the hall. Details of the bazaar are on the parish website.
Christmas Giving Program -
The Christmas Trees will be in the vestibule shortly with the gift tags on
them. Please take a gift tag and purchase the corresponding gift card. The return
date for the gift cards is December 10 from 10 am – 1pm in the parish hall.
Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
I wish you all a good week!
Fr. Phil
