The hour of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith

The words of St. Paul from his Second Letter to Timothy remind us of our final destination and prepare us for the mysteries of the first days of November.

Annually, on the first two days of November the Universal Church celebrates All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days. The first feast is officially named the Solemnity of All Saints and it was established first for the local Church in Rome in the 8th century and in the next century it was extended to be celebrated by the Universal Church. On this day we honour all the saints, those formally recognized, those whose names remain unknown, and the baptized of every epoch and nation who enjoy the heavenly glory. The liturgy of this solemnity urges us to raise our eyes towards heaven and inflame our hearts with a desire for holiness. Our Lord wants us to be holy as the Father in heaven is holy, so we should generously respond, as the saints did, to this divine calling for holiness. It is also the First Friday of the month and we honour The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

On November 2nd celebrating the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed we pray for all our sisters and brothers who completed their earthly pilgrimage and are waiting for admittance to God’s glory. It is our duty to remember them and help them with our prayers and self-denials to get in the kingdom of heaven. One day we will be in the same situation asking others for that same spiritual support. This year it is also the first Saturday of the month. Although we will be celebrating a Mass of All Souls’ Day, we will be praying the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Children’s Rosary after the Mass.

Pope Francis asks the faithful throughout the Church to pray during the month of November for the following intention: “That a spirit of dialogue, encounter, and reconciliation emerge in the Near East, where diverse religious communities share their lives together”.

All holy men and women pray for us!

God bless,
Fr. Peter