Nov. 1 is All Saints Day (All Hallow’s Day). However, due to its falling on a Saturday this year it is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation. We will have some special prayers for that day, however.
On Fri. Oct. 31st, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Hampton will be open for Eucharistic Adoration from 6pm until 10pm. So if you want to stop in anytime between or after getting candy, or just want to spend some prayer on this holy evening, you are invited, encouraged, and welcome to come and spend some time with Our Lord present to us in the Eucharist. Also, as some people, unfortunately, are tempted on Halloween Night to experiment with spiritual things that are not of the Lord (occultic practices, etc.). So we can also pray them this night, and make reparation, by spending time with Our Lord in Adoration.
On Saturday Nov. 1st at 8:30am we will have Mass for All Saints Day at St. Mary’s in Ackley. As I mentioned this is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation, but is available for anyone who wants to come and celebrate All Saints Day.
Sun. Nov. 2nd is All Soul’s Day, sometimes called “Day of the Dead,” but more properly called, “The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.” We will have a special candles lit during this Mass and throughout the month of November for members of our parish who have died in within the past year.
Also there will be a binder available to write the names of any loved ones who have died, that we will pray for in an intentional way throughout the month of November.
So why do we pray for the dead? We pray for the dead to assist their souls on the journey through Purgatory. Purgatory is the final journey or process of purification that we go through to enter into heaven. Whatever we are not purged of in this life, whatever sinful behaviors and vices we still cling to, we will be purged of in the next life. The prayers of the living assist the dead through this final stage of purifying that they may more quickly enter into the final joy of heaven! We do this by offering prayers in general, by offering indulgences, and most especially by offering Masses. The Mass is where we experience the Saving Power of Christ’s work on the Cross, and thus when we offer a Mass for one’s intention, we extend that Saving Power of Christ and His Cross to that person who has died! But what if we pray for someone who is already through Purgatory and in heaven? Then God graciously applies those graces to another Purgative soul in need! So, our prayers for our beloved dead are never wasted!
May we continue to assist our beloved dead through prayers that they may enter fully into the Church Triumphant, into the joyous community of the Saints in heaven!
Peace
-Fr. Kevin
