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ALL SOULS In the Catholic tradition we set aside the month of November as a special time to remember those who have gone before us. Starting on November 2nd, the Feast of All Souls, we try to remember our loved ones who have died. St. Paul tells us that after death comes judgment and, perhaps, our imaginations conjure up a court trial with God as judge and ourselves as defendants with a lengthy list of offenses. But I tend to think that God is so much bigger than a list of good and bad. I like to think that God sees every fall from grace as simply a lack of love in some form or another and that at the moment of death God shows us his perfect love for us and our lackluster response. When I think of Purgatory I reflect on the homecoming of the prodigal son. Yes, he is dirty, disheveled and unworthy like many of us at some point in life. Yet the father comes looking for him and does not listen to his self-accusation. He just takes him in his arms and at that moment the son sees and feels the enormous love that the father has for him. He also sees how little has been his response to that love and that searing moment is Purgatory. If I asked you would you like to go to Heaven, I have no doubt what the answer would be. But if I asked you if you wanted to die, there might be some hesitation. Yet we all know that you can not have one without the other. The Book of Wisdom tells us the souls of the just are in the hands of God and no torment will ever touch them. They are at peace. Their hope is full of immortality. This is the first place in the Bible that the word immortality is used. Immortality – Eternal Life. There is no greater desire in the human heart. It is another way to speak of possessing God. It is all that St. Augustine meant when he said our hearts are restless until they rest in thee. It seems strangely appropriate that All Souls Day falls at a time when all nature is dying, falling to earth, preparing for the cold of winter. But no matter what time of year it is people are dying. I am sure that most of us have experienced the loss of someone close. Death is sad and it can be tragic. But the sadness and tragedy of death are only for us who remain who never again in this world will see the face of the loved one, hear the familiar voice of a wife or husband, mother or father. So, what is the bridge that binds us to those who have died? Isn’t it love? A love that is stronger than all else, a love so strong that death can not destroy it, love that goes beyond the grave. In the Old Testament, The Song of Songs tells us that love is stronger than death. St. Paul joys in telling us that in the end only faith, hope and love will last, but the greatest of these is love. It is part of our Catholic faith that the dead can be helped by our prayers. Ask me how and I can not tell you. But then I can not tell you exactly how the living are assisted by my prayers either. Yet I do not hesitate to pray for them. As the book of Maccabees tells us, it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead. I doubt any of us wants to die. Not because our faith is weak, but because there is so much to life. We live for life. And inevitably in death, we must never forget the words of the funeral Mass – Life is not ended, just changed. Yours in Christ, FATHER DAMIAN MACPHERSON, SA AND OTHERS MAKE AN ECUMENICAL TRIP TO THE HOLY LANDFr. Damian MacPherson, SA, director of ecumenical and interfaith affairs, Archdiocese of Toronto, was one of the leaders of a Christian, Muslim, and Jewish pilgrimage of 58 people to the Holy Land in September. Called “In the Path of Abraham,” the trip sought to advocate for peace and understanding among the three faiths. On November 7th at St. Mary’s University, Nova Scotia, Canada, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, 13th Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada will present a lecture entitled: “Holiness, Hospitality, Hope.” FEAST DAY CELEBRATED WITH BLESSING OF THE ANIMALSIt was a beautiful day on Sunday, October 2nd when a large crowd of people and their best animal friends assembled at Graymoor for the Annual Procession and Blessing of the Animals in celebration of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals. What does this mean? By publishing your message, you demonstrate your faith and commitment to letting God through St. Jude help bring change to your life. By publishing a thank you, you record a testimony of your own experience and faith, which will inspire others to turn to God through St. Jude during their own times of greatest need. As you make your plans for the Christmas Season, we hope you will consider a trip to Graymoor. There are many events here to celebrate the birth of our Lord. Come view the more than 100 Crèches we have on display, attend special services or attend a retreat at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center. Click here to subscribe to this newsletter |
Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
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Atonement Friars eNews is the monthly e-newsletter of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement | |||
