Dear Friends in Christ,
Today we hear the humble prayer of the tax collector: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Contrary to what we might think, accepting our spiritual poverty is freeing! God knows everything about us, and He meets us where we are and calls us to move forward in His love. What a cause for hope and joy. Being loved like this then becomes an impetus for loving others in the same way, especially the poor in our midst.
In his first encyclical Dilexi te, Pope Leo XIV says that our contact and closeness to the poor “is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, He continues to speak to us.”
Who is on our day to day, week to week path? Are we ready for an encounter with the Lord of history in their person?
As a reminder, November 1 All Saints Day is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year since it falls on a Saturday. Nonetheless, I warmly invite you to participate in celebrating this magnificent feast!
On Halloween October 31st, we will anticipate All Saints with Mass at Our Lady of the Chesapeake at 5pm. That’s a nice way to kick off your trick or treating! Pure treat.
On November 1st we will celebrate the usual 8:30am Mass at St Jane Frances. We will have the relics of St. Jane Frances, St. Francis de Sales, and St. Faustina, and St. Therese available for veneration.
On November 2nd at all vigil Masses and all Sunday Masses, we will commemorate All Souls Day. From the Daily Roman Missal:
“The Church… today prays for all who, in the purifying suffering of Purgatory, await the day they will join in heavenly glory. The celebration of the Mass, which re-presents the Sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, has always been the principal means by which the Church fulfills the great responsibility of charity toward the dead. Death cannot break the bonds of the Body of Christ.”
These days of All Saints and the day and whole month of All Souls reminds us that with death life is changed, not ended; that with death, our bonds of communion and love with the faithful departed remain. We love them best by praying for them, especially in our participation at Holy Mass.
There’s much more to say about November and the month of All Souls, but for now, let us pray together: Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
God bless you and thank you for keeping the Pastorate of the Visitation in your daily prayers! All Saints—pray for us!
Fr John
