Solemnity of All Saints

Poor Souls in Purgatory

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 25 Serious Faults

Mass: Rev 7:2-4, 9-14; Resp Ps 24; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a

Lord, this is the people that longs to see Your face.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS, 

SAINT GERTRUDE THE GREAT OF HELTA,

SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO,

SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

PRAY FOR US.

Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.

(Rev 7:12)

Welcome to November faithful readers.  This is a great month for many reasons. There are so many things to write about, I don't know where to begin and where to end, so I will just go on for a while. 😊

First, November is the month dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory, so we invoke two saints in particular to pray with us this month (and maybe some others too), Saint Nicholas of Tolentino (1245-1305) the Patron of Holy Souls, and my patron, Saint Gertrude the Great of Helfta (1256-1301/2). Both were devoted to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The former we commemorate September 10, the latter November 16. Second, we begin a new liturgical year on November 27, the First Sunday in Advent. And we get off to roaring start today with the Solemnity of All Saints, then continue tomorrow when we commemorate all the faithful departed on All Souls' Day. And then we have all the glorious saints to commemorate throughout the month like Saint Leo the Great (November 10), Saint Martin of Tours (November 11), Saint Margaret of Scotland (November 16), Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (November 17), Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne (November 18), Saint Cecilia (November 22), Saint Andrew (November 30), and more including the anniversary of the dedication of the Saint John Lateran Basilica on the 9th. This is the glory of all His faithful ones. Praise the Lord! (Ps 149:9).

An email came through this morning from the Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine. In an article "The Saints Want Us to Be With Them," the author, Elizabeth Scalia, shares an excellent reflection and gives a  brilliant idea (You can easily search the web and find the article. Check it out.). Mrs. Scalia suggests following an ancient tradition of choosing a "patron" saint for the new liturgical year, or rather, letting a saint choose you. As a cloistered nun once told her, "The saint chooses you. Pray, first that the patron be guided your way. But the prayer is more for you, for your awareness." In any case, every day during the month of November, beginning today, write the name of a saint on a little piece of paper, and collect the daily papers in a basket or bowl (mine will be in a hat). Then on the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (November 20th), pull a paper out of the basket and that saint will be your patron for the year. Learn about him or her, however obscure or unknown to you. What can he or she teach you? As Mrs. Scalia commented, "you have been given a great opportunity for spiritual growth, if you stick together." And if you think the saint fails you in way or another, or that he or she doesn't have anything to teach you, remember more words from that cloistered nun: "Your previous patrons didn't fail - you just weren't open to them."

I will start today and write the name of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint, on a piece of paper. If you can't think of any other saints, look at the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I) from the Mass. There is a litany of saints there. Ask a friend to help suggest a saint or two. Look to my reflections for the saints of the day listed. There are several saints mentioned in the course of this ramble. Sources for saints are endless. You know what to do. United in faith and prayer, we join with all the saints, those formally canonized, the "saints next door," and all of us saints in the making, and go forth. 

The saints have no need of honor from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning.

Calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company, so desirable in itself.

(From a sermon by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, abbot, in Office of Readings, November 1)

The saints did not begin well, but they ended well.

(Saint John Vianney)

Follow the saints, because those who follow them will become saints.

(Pope Saint Clement I)

Do not be afraid to become the saints of the new millennium.

(Pope Saint John Paul II)

Today's photo: For all the saints who from their labors rest ... Such is the race that seeks Him.

© Gertrude Feick 2022