Pastor's Letter -- October 31, 2021

Beloved parishioners,

November is here again. We are gradually approaching the end of our calendar year. November also brings us close to the end of this liturgical year, with the celebration of Our Lord Jesus Christ the Universal King. On November 1st we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. This is the church of all known and unknown saints who have been through the great tribulation and have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14). This is the Church Triumphant. They now enjoy the beatific vision. Their heroic life is both inspiration and challenge for us, the Church Militant, as we journey on our pilgrimage through life. On November 2nd we commemorate, and remember in our prayers the souls of our departed brothers and sisters, whom the Lord has called back home. We pray that they will pass safely to their heavenly reward. All through November we remember, in a special way, the souls of all the faithful departed, the Church Suffering, who because of any attachment that hinders their smooth passage into heaven, are being purified (Rev. 21:27). In asking the prayers of the saints and offering our prayers for the faithful departed, we express our faith in the Communion of Saints, and highlight what our faith teaches that those of us who are dead are not separated from those of us who are alive. As Pope St. Paul VI describes it in his Credo of the People of God: We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always attentive to our prayers (CCC, 962). The ancient practice of visiting cemeteries and praying for the deceased is once again encouraged. The church attaches an indulgence to this practice. So, please make time to visit cemeteries around you, and offer prayers for our deceased brothers and sisters. I want to share this beautiful prayer of St. Gertrude, a 13th century German nun, writer and mystic. I have prayed this prayer for many years.

Eternal Father, I offer You the most precious blood of thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, for those in my own home, and in my family. Amen.

There are many indulgences, applicable to the Souls in Purgatory, that can be obtained during the month of November. From the fourth edition of the Enchiridion of Indulgences, 1999:

1. A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted to the faithful who,
⬧ on any and each day from November 1 to 8, devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only mentally, for the departed;
⬧ on All Souls' Day (or, according to the judgment of the ordinary, on the Sunday preceding or following it, or on the solemnity of All Saints), devoutly visit a church or an oratory and recite an Our Father and the Creed.

2. A partial indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted to the faithful who,
⬧ devoutly visit a cemetery and at least mentally pray for the dead;
⬧ devoutly recite lauds or vespers from the Office of the Dead or the prayer Requiem aeternam (Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord…).

An indulgence is “the remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven as far as their guilt is concerned, which the follower of Christ with the proper dispositions and under certain determined conditions acquires through the intervention of the Church which, as minister of the Redemption, authoritatively dispenses and applies the treasury of the satisfaction won by Christ and the saints.

An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due sin” (Indulgentiarum Doctrina, n.1-2). To obtain this remission there are proper dispositions and certain conditions predetermined by the Church that must be met. Firstly, one must have the intention to gain the indulgence, and perform the works at the time and in the manner prescribed.

To gain a Plenary Indulgence (only one per day), the faithful must be in the state of grace and the following conditions must accompany the prescribed act:
⬧ have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;
⬧ go to the sacrament of reconciliation
⬧ receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required)
⬧ and recite prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (one Our Father and one Hail Mary is suggested as a minimum, but any other additional prayers may be added).
⬧ All attachment to sin, even venial sin, must be absent. The indulgence is partial if any of the above conditions are not fulfilled.

This past Friday, we had the opportunity to raise our hearts in prayer for all who have lost a child, whether before or after birth. We recognize their humanity, and we mourn their loss, with their families. And we hope to continue to support them with our prayers.

This Thursday, November 4th, we invite all our parishioners to “The One Retreat” co-hosted by the Damascus missionaries. We all need some time of renewal, to spend time with the Lord and to be renewed in his presence. This will be from 6 – 9pm in church. Come and experience the Lord who is always in search for us.

May Jesus bless you, and may Our Lady protect you! With blessings from my heart,