“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:1-2a)
November is a liturgical month of remembrance, beginning with the Solemnity of All Saints this Sunday and the Commemoration of All Souls on Monday. This month of remembrance concludes with the Solemnity of Christ the King, the end of the church year. Our personal remembrances throughout this month are seen through the lens of our celebration of the gift of eternal life lived by the saints and the proclamation of Christ’s victory over sin and death as priest, prophet and king. As the quote from the Letter to the Hebrews teaches, we live our lives knowing that we are surrounded by the witness of those who have gone before us, and we commit ourselves to living with our eyes fixed on Jesus and the victory he has won for us.
But what is our relationship with those who have gone before us who are not canonized saints? First and foremost, we live in hope that they are amongst those having received the gift of eternal life. Our prayer is that our loved ones are indeed among the saints. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states the following:
Those who die in God’s grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live forever with Christ. They are like God forever, for they “see him as he is,” face to face. (1023)
We also know that any one of us may die, not in a state of grace but still bearing the stain of sin. Therefore, the Catechism also teaches:
All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death, they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. (1030-31)
In our relationship with those who have died, we are either asking for their intercession, or we are praying for their ultimate joy of eternal life with God in heaven. Our remembrance of the departed during this month and throughout our earthly pilgrimage is one that acknowledges the unbreakable bond of love and expresses our faith in the hope of the resurrection.
In my column last week, I offered some commentary on some of the popular imagery of Halloween. As I wrote, I have no desire to take the fun out of Halloween but instead called us to be aware of the things that glorify death and the real presence of evil. As we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of All Souls, I wanted to reflect on something graver and even more dangerous.
This is the time of year, even more so than others, when occult practices are promoted in society. Such practices are spiritually harmful to the faithful and the salvation of souls because they open people up to demonic influence and subsequent affliction, causing great distress and suffering. Such occult practices include engaging with psychics, mediums, witchcraft, and many other forms of pagan practice and worship.
Engagement in these practices also risks theological confusion and a weakening of the peoples’ understanding of the Faith, and the teachings of the Catholic Church warn against them. For further insight on these issues, I direct you to the Pastoral Letter of Bishop Barres, “Mediums and the Catholic Faith,” www.drvc.org/mediums.
WELCOME, FR. NICODEMUS ADDI – This weekend Fr. Nicodemus joins our pastoral team as a visiting Associate Pastor. He will be with us for the next two months. He has served in our diocese at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst and comes to us with positive recommendations. In his home diocese of Orlu in Nigeria, he has served as an associate pastor and pastor of two parishes. Please join me in welcoming him.
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION – This week Auxiliary Bishop Andrzej Zglejszewski joined us for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. We thank him for his warm presence and the joyful spirit that he brought to us. I congratulate our newly-confirmed, and I thank their parents, sponsors, catechists and the staff of our Office of Faith Formation for their guidance and faith witness to these young disciples.
ALL SOULS – The Commemoration of All Souls takes place on Monday, November 2. In addition to the morning masses, we will prayerfully remember those who have died during this past year by reading each of their names at our All Souls’ Mass at 7:30 pm. On Monday, November 9, we will have our annual celebration of the Mass for Bereaved Parents and Family members, also at 7:30 pm.
Peace!
