On Saturday, Nov. 1, the Catholic Church will be celebrating the solemnity of All Saints Day. It is a wonderful opportunity to remember the many saints in heaven whose names are unknown to most of us. It is the perfect day to ask for their prayers and intercession as they enjoy the beatific vision of Almighty God along with the angels and canonized saints whose names we do know. For members of the former group, there is St. Mary Lou, my little sister who died after her baptism (which was done by the obstetrical nurse) shortly after her birth on July 9, 1961. She entered eternal life shortly afterwards.
The day after, we will be celebrating the memorial of All Souls Day, in which we commemorate the faithfully departed in Purgatory, who died with sanctifying grace in their souls but are in need of temporal punishment after death and further purification of any defects needed before achieving the vision of God face to face (Mt 12:32; 1 Cor 3:11-15; Heb 12:14; Rev 21:27). This is a day in which we priests, thanks to Pope Benedict XV in his 1915 Apostolic Constitution, Incruentum altaris sacrificium, have the privilege of offering three Masses, one for the faithfully departed in Purgatory, one for the intentions of the Pope, and one for a particular intention. In my family, these two days were always very important.
While at Mass not only during these two days, but at every Mass we assist at, let us remember that God pushes aside the veils that separate time and eternity and not only is the Lord’s Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection made present (not repeated) but we are together with the angels and saints in heaven and the souls of the faithful departed (1 Cor 11:26; Mal 1:11; CCC 1330; 1363; 1366; 1367; 1368; 1370). Want to be with a departed friend or loved one? Assist at Mass! It is there we are all present together in a unique and privileged way as the Mystical Body of Christ.
In reading the lives of the saints we know about, namely those who have been canonized, one will find they consistently shared two things in common while on earth, an intense love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and the poor. This makes perfect sense since we know that God is love, and the evidence of our love of God is our love of neighbor and the evidence of our love of neighbor is our acts of charity to them (see the first letter of John). I have seen these characteristics in our donors ever since I started at Catholic Social Services – which is no surprise. For this, I am most grateful. This is why we at Catholic Social Services promise our prayers for you, your families and intentions. Holy Saints of God, pray for us! And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace! Amen.
