Dear Parishioners:
Bishop Evans anoints Borys MICHAEL Carrison at the OLM Confirmation Mass, October 25, 2020.
Last Sunday, we had a joyful and solemn celebration of Confirmation for our parish's young adults. We thank Bishop Evans for filling in for Bishop Matano as NY State restrictions prevented him from traveling to RI. We also thank Doug Green, Mickey St. Jean, and all those who helped prepare for this important event. Also, we thank Henri St. Louis and the musicians for the beautiful music. We especially thank the candidates, their sponsors, and their parents. We give thanks to God for these newly confirmed Catholics and ask Him to continue to bestow his blessings and grace upon them. May they grow in faith, hope, and charity.
All Saints Tapestry from Our Lady of the Angeles Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA.
We celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints this week as November 1 falls on a Sunday. Today we celebrate the Church's saints, that is, all those both known and unknown who have attained Heaven. In a particular way, we remember in our prayers all those OLM Parishioners who have died since last November 1. Their families join us at the 10:30 AM Mass. We promise them our continued prayers during their time of sorrow and grief and for the repose of the souls of their dearly departed. May they rest in peace, and may the perpetual light shine upon them.
Life on earth is often difficult. "Continuous warfare," as Job said. This world is fallen, filled with obstacles to justice, peace, and true happiness. Each of us carries within us a fallen human nature that tends toward selfishness and sin, despite being loved by God and redeemed and renewed by his grace.
As a result, the life of every Christian here on earth is a hard battle to stay faithful to Christ and to help others do the same. Therefore, the Church on earth is called the Church Militant. Official Church teaching doesn't shy away from this. The Second Vatican Council, in its Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, taught: "For a monumental struggle against the powers of darkness pervades the whole history of man. The battle was joined from the very origins of the world and will continue until the last day, as the Lord has attested."
We know this, and we have accepted the challenge - that's why we faithfully attend Holy Mass, seek forgiveness in Confession and strive to live virtuously. And yet, at times, we get tired of fighting. We get worn out with the state of our world and sometimes the state of our own lives. That's why the Church gives us today's Solemnity of All Saints - to rekindle our hope!
Today we take our eyes off the battlefield of the earth where the Church militant is fighting, sweating, and bleeding. And we lift our gaze to Heaven, where we see "a great multitude, which no one could count" gathered around our King, enjoying the rewards of their earthly labors, enjoying the victory.
These are the saints in Heaven and we call them the Church Triumphant. They are people just like us, from every age, experience, place, and walk of life, who "survived the time of great distress," as St John calls life on earth. Contemplating these brothers and sisters in Christ should renew our strength, inspire us, and encourage us.
We continue to remember all the souls of the faithful departed during this All Souls Month of November. Please be mindful of the souls in purgatory. The Church teaches us that praying for the dead is a spiritual work of mercy. The greatest prayer we could ever offer for the dead is the prayer of the Mass. At Mass, we unite our prayers, those emanating from our lips, our hearts, even our bodies in all types of actions of loving sacrifice for others, to Christ's prayer in the Mass. The Mass is the continuous, saving sacrifice once-and-for-all begun during the Last Supper and finished on the Cross.
Tuesday is Election Day! All elections have serious consequences for our society. So please prepare for Tuesday by joining in prayer on Monday. On the eve of the election, we hold vigil for our nation. We pray for all candidates and for peace, liberty, and justice. We pray for the poor, the unborn, the vulnerable, the sick, and the weakest among us. Then on Election Day, may we cast a vote first and foremost as a Catholic with an informed conscience.
Happy All Saints Day! Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good! God Bless. God Bless America!