Saints and Souls
November 1, 2021
Atlanta, GA
With the passing of All Hallows’ Eve, the goblins, demons, and ghouls are gone. Today we make way for the saints.
We are approaching the conclusion of the Catholic calendar. The Church coordinates its year around the life, death, and Resurrection of Christ. It anticipates the coming of the Kingdom and the salvation of souls.
By this annual cycle The Church renews her youth. She sees her divine Spouse each year laying in a manger, fasting in the desert, hanging from the Cross, rising from the grave, founding His Church, instituting the Sacraments, ascending to Heaven, and sending the Holy Ghost to earth.
It begins with Advent, in preparation and repentance, seasoned with joy and sprinkled with hope. Then, amid the darkness, we receive the Light. In the Nativity, we glorify the Incarnation of Christ for the Redemption of man.
Thru the shepherds, by the Magi, and with His mission, Word spreads during the Christmas Cycle and after Epiphany. Christ asserts His Divine doctrine thru His piercing parables, and His Holy works by the power of miracles. Throughout His ministry, the apostles gather, and the authorities gird.
Ash Wednesday launches the season of Lent, when penance prepares us for the Passion of Christ. The Triduum commemorates the Last Supper, salvific Crucifixion, and glorious Resurrection of Our Lord.
The Easter Vigil culminates the the year and commences a season of joyous feasts celebrating the Resurrection, the Ascension, and Descent of the Holy Ghost on the eleven Apostles.
The Octave of Pentecost begins on Whitsunday, and introduces the longest phase of the ecclesiastical year. The Season After Pentecost continues the work of Redemption, facilitated by several feasts of considerable significance.
After the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Solemnity of the Blessed Trinity honors the one God in three forms. Thereafter that of Corpus Christi glorifies the Real Presence of the Body and Blood in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
On the Third Friday after Pentecost The Church honors the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, which induced Him to suffer and die for the redemption of man, and to institute the sacrament of the Eucharist to commemorate His death.
By the Tridentine Rite of the Catholic Church, the Feast of the Kingship of our Lord fell yesterday, the final Sunday in October, and acknowledges Christ’s Dominion in Heaven, and His Majesty over the Universe. The Infant Christ born under the world presides eternally from His throne atop the Cosmos.
Aside from Sundays, six Holy Days of Obligation punctuate the respective seasons of the liturgical year: the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Feast of the Nativity, The Solemnity of Mary, the Ascension of Our Lord, the Assumption of Our Lady…
…and today, the Solemnity of All Saints.
From the ninth century promulgation of Pope Gregory IV, this feast has been commemorated on this day. It honors all saints of the Church, who possess the beatific vision in Heaven. Today in their name we offer to God the Blood of Christ, honoring those who are unknown in the liturgy, yet humble in their reward.
The Church has long recognized the bond between the Saints and the Souls, between The Church Militant on earth and The Church Triumphant in Heaven. The feast of souls tomorrow follows that of saints today. These two days are the knot by which these worlds are bound.
By beseeching mercy to God for the souls of the departed, we hope to mitigate the pains they suffer, and pray He may soon bring them to Heavenly glory.
On the Feast of All Souls, we recommend to Christ and His Mother all the souls in Purgatory, and particularly those of our relatives, benefactors, friends, and enemies. And for their relief we offer the Mass of the day for the beneficence of God.
Lord knows it’ll be welcome, particularly for us sinful souls who’ve never been saints.
JD
