The Three Epiphany's - 2022

During the Advent / Christmas cycle we reflected on the Three Comings of Christ. Now let us look at the Three Epiphany's of Christ. We commonly think of the Epiphany as that one event in Christ's life where the Magi, led by a star, make their way to see him and offer him gifts fitting a new king. However, the Catholic liturgy considers the Epiphany to be threefold, the visit by the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus by John, and the Miracle of the Wine at the Wedding in Cana. The Greek word, "epiphaneia", was used to signify the coming of a king or emperor. It was also used for the self-manifestation of a god or for his miraculous intervention; this later, likely the original use of the word. A popular use of the word “epiphany” today means a sudden discovery, something finally seen and recognized, the beginning of understanding; we say, “ah, now I see, now I understand!” "I just had an epiphany". The word "insight" comes to mind here. Let us stay with this notion for now. Many people these days have abandoned the practice of belonging to a church. They say they are spiritual but not religious and do not need the structures of church membership to be a good person. It is true that everyone is spiritual for that is how God created us, a physical being with a spiritual soul. However to simply claim to be spiritual is to leave out one important thing - God. The people at the time of the Epiphany were both spiritual and religious. Where they were having difficulties was with which religion, which God? Who best to sort out this complicated question than God Himself. The Epiphany is God revealing himself for all to see. ( ... now I see, now I get it, so this is who God is, the One come into our world to clear up our confusion.) And O what confusion we people are capable of creating. So the work begun with these three Epiphany's continues to unfold even as we speak.  Do you get it? Do you understand? How is your "epiphany experience" unfolding? Here is where true spirituality enters the discussion - true spirituality happens when we become seekers, searching for Him the One who will tell us in person who he is. As seekers our gifts to offer are open hearts and minds in search of "insight" and understanding - people with a dynamic spiritual practice seeking a personal encounter with Jesus. Just as true spirituality does not tell God who he is, likewise true religion does not make up how God is to be served, God himself has come to show us how he wants us to worship and serve him. So we need to belong to the Church that Jesus established as his way of gathering us around himself for instruction.

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Feast of the Holy Family - 2021

Link to a previous Post - The Holy Family [ select ]

Christmas - 2021

May the struggles the world faces at this Christmas time not burden your heart, for nothing can prevent His Coming. Though hidden from natural eyes, Jesus the teacher is among us NOW - teaching us to see that what began at His First Coming continues today, and  will continue until all is accomplish. As our world tries to dispel the darkness by lighting many lights, we have in our midst a Light shining upon us from within, a Light that can never be extinguished.  I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. Jo. 16:33

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Fourth Week of Advent - 2021

It is Luke's gospel that gives us the details of the birth of Jesus. It is from his account that all the beautiful images Christ's nativity have been created. One of Luke's details informs us that it was in the night that Jesus was born, for we read, "And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.…" Lk. 2:8. In our Christmas hymns we sing, O Holy Night.  In scripture, "night" has a much deeper meaning than just the time of day. Day and night, light and darkness, are images used to describe the spiritual conditions in which the souls of people find themselves. Perhaps one of the most dramatic uses of the word "night" is found in John's account of the Last Supper and Judas leaving the table to go and betray Jesus: "As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was NIGHT." During this Advent time I have been exploring what we mean by the Three Comings of Christ; the First being the Incarnation, the Second End times and the Day of Judgement, and the Third being Now, each new day as people encounter Christ and are born anew into a life of faith. But this Third Coming has a characteristic different than the First and Second. The Third Coming is real but unseen, hidden as it where from mere human viewing. It is as if we are in the dark, unable to see - that is with natural eyes. To see the Jesus of the Third coming you need the "eyes of faith". It is John in his gospel account that the image of light and darkness is used as the instrument to teach us about the true spiritual life. In John Chapter 13, verses 35 & 36 gives us an intriguing insight into Jesus the light with them, vs. 35 and then Jesus the light hidden from them, vs. 36  Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.”  After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them. John 13:35-36 It is this hidden presence that John of the Cross takes hold of for his teachings on the mystical life. He describes how one first enters the Night of the Senses and then ever deeper into the Night of the Soul. In the night of the Senses one detaches their heart from the things of the material world. Then in the Dark Night of the Soul even our constructed beliefs about God must be set aside, imperfect as they are compared to what God will now teach us about who He really is - the God of Love. The early Church Fathers understood the necessity of this hidden condition Jesus requires of us but they quite openly confessed the suffering their longing to see caused them. Quoting from an earlier post St. Anselm says it so well; Enter into your mind's inner chamber. Shut out everything but God and whatever helps you to seek him; and when you have shut the door, look for him. Speak now to God and say with your whole heart.  I seek your face; your face, Lord, I desire. Lord most high, what shall this exile do, so far from you? What shall your servant do, tormented by love of you and cast so far from your face? He yearns to see you, and your face is too far from him.  Teach me to seek you, and when I seek you show yourself to me, for I cannot seek you unless you teach me, nor can I find you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you in desiring you and desire you in seeking you, find you in loving you. St. Ignatius in his Exercises gives us the example of three different responses  to the invitation to seek for Jesus here and now.  There are persons who are quite aware of the value of forming a spiritual approach to their life, a true seeking to have a real, personal relationship with Jesus. But they are much too busy with making a success of their secular life and do little more than decorate their homes at Christmas. Then there are persons who do get involved in certain religious practices, but only those that do not interfere with their otherwise busy secular lives. Religion when convenient. Finally there are those who truly set out in search of Him. They will not let anything interfere with their pursuit. No thing, no person, no attachment they may have in this life can compete with that union with Jesus they desire. These days of Advent 2021, as all  Advents do, have led us to reflect on the First Coming of Jesus. We have come to understand that these are not simply days of sentimental remembering before we pack up the Christmas decorations for another year. Rather this is a time for us to grasp the fact that he who came is NOW COMING, standing before us, inviting us to leave all behind and go with him into a new and hidden future with only his word as a guarantee. If we are willing to risk everything he will lead us into a glory beyond all imagining. Are you with him?

The "O" Antiphons - 2021

Beginning today, December 17th.  the Church recites or chants the "O" Antiphons. They are the seven antiphons that precede the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours, and are the words of the gospel acclamation for the daily liturgy of the Word at Mass. They cover the special period of Advent preparation known as the Octave before Christmas, Dec. 17-23, with Dec. 24 being Christmas Eve and Vespers for that evening being for the Christmas Vigil. For a detailed look into these Antiphons go to this LINK >>>.
December 17 O Sapientia: O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.	December 18 O Adonai: O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.
December 19 O Radix Jesse: O Flower of Jesse's stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.	December 20 O Clavis David: O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.
December 21 O Oriens: O Radiant Dawn, splendour of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.	December 22 O Rex Gentium: O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.
December 23 O Emmanuel: O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Saviour of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.

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More Reflection on the Third Coming - 2021

VOICES began this Advent with reflections on the Three Coming of Christ. The unique character of the Third coming is that it is not visible to ordinary sight, it's really present but invisible. It is rooted in our very nature that when we love deeply we are driven by a desire to behold our beloved. We have already noted that Jesus, by remaining hidden, disarms the demand of "seeing is believing". But what of those who believe, why are they not permitted to see? The answer to this question is rooted in the mystery Love. In James 2:19 we read, "You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror."  In his First Coming, Jesus revealed himself as someone who could be seen; in his public life, his teaching, his miracles, his resurrection and ascension. With these "seeing-is-believing" has been addressed. We are now in the time titled Jesus' Third Coming. Faith continues to be awakened through the witness of the First Coming, but now something deeper is unfolding. To faith and hope LOVE now becomes the focus of this Third Coming.  The desire to see Jesus' face continues, but not as proof of him who is, rather because of the unquenchable desire one has for union with the beloved One. St. John of the Cross in his Mystic Ladder of Divine Love describes it this way. 1st step: Love causes the soul to languish with great profit for God’s glory. The soul no longer desires earthly things nor finds pleasure in them. 2nd step: Love causes the soul to seek the Beloved in all things (thoughts, words, works, etc) without ceasing. 3rd step: Love causes the soul to work and gives it fervor so that it fails not, desiring to die a thousand deaths to make up for the scantiness of its service. 4th step: Love causes in the soul the boldly follow after God in the spirit of suffering for His sake. The soul is now strong, seeks no gain for self, and its sole desire is to please God at any and every cost. 5th step: Love makes the soul desire and long for God impatiently. 6th step: Love makes the soul run strongly and swiftly to God. 7th step: Love makes the soul become vehement in its boldness and the soul begins to receive what it so lovingly prays for. 8th step: Love causes the soul to seize Him and hold Him fast without letting Him go, even as the Bride says, after this manner: 9th step: Love makes the soul burn with sweetness from the gift of the Spirit as God bestows upon the soul indescribable riches and blessings. 10th step: Love causes the soul to become wholly assimilated to God, by reason of the clear and immediate vision of God which it then possesses; when, having ascended in this life to the ninth step, it goes forth from the flesh. We must not think that this dynamic of love with Jesus is only for the super spiritual. Jesus wants everyone to engage with him in love. On Thursday of the 2nd. Week of Advent, in the Office of Readings we have this inspiring sermon by Saint Peter Chrysologus. When God saw the world falling to ruin because of fear, he immediately acted to call it back to himself with love. He invited it by his grace, preserved it by his love, and embraced it with compassion. When the earth had become hardened in evil, God sent the flood both to punish and to release it. He called Noah to be the father of a new era, urged him with kind words, and showed that he trusted him; he gave him fatherly instruction about the present calamity, and through his grace, consoled him with hope for the future.  But God did not merely issue commands; rather with Noah sharing the work, he filled the ark with the future seed of the whole world. The sense of loving fellowship thus engendered removed servile fear, and a mutual love could continue to preserve what shared labor had effected. God called Abraham out of the heathen world, symbolically lengthened his name, and made him the father of all believers. God walked with him on his journeys, and protected him in foreign lands, enriched him with earthly possessions, and honored him with victories. He made a covenant with him, saved him from harm, accepted his hospitality, and astonished him by giving him the offspring he had despaired of. Favored with so many graces and drawn by such great sweetness of divine love, Abraham was to learn to love God rather than fear him, and love rather than fear was to inspire his worship. God comforted Jacob by a dream during his flight, roused him to combat upon his return, and encircled him with a wrestler’s embrace to teach him not to be afraid of the author of the conflict, but to love him. God called Moses as a father would, and with fatherly affection invited him to become the liberator of his people. In all the events we have recalled, the flame of divine love enkindled human hearts and its intoxication overflowed into men’s senses. Wounded by love, they longed to look upon God with their bodily eyes. Yet how could our narrow human vision apprehend God, whom the whole world cannot contain? But the law of love is not concerned with what will be, what ought to be, what can be. Love does not reflect; it is unreasonable and knows no moderation. Love refuses to be consoled when its goal proves impossible, despises all hindrances to the attainment of its object. Love destroys the lover if he cannot obtain what he loves; love follows its own promptings, and does not think of right and wrong. Love inflames desire which impels it toward things that are forbidden. But why continue? It is intolerable for love not to see the object of its longing. That is why whatever reward they merited was nothing to the saints if they could not see the Lord. A love that desires to see God may not have reasonableness on its side, but it is the evidence of filial love. It gave Moses the temerity to say: If I have found favor in your eyes, show me your face. It inspired the psalmist to make the same prayer: Show me your face. Even the pagans made their images for this purpose: they wanted actually to see what they mistakenly revered.

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Advent Meditation - 2021

In our reflection on this Advent, the First Coming of Christ, it was noted that in fact there are Three Comings of Christ. The numbers assigned to each are actually titles not order of sequence, that is why right at this very moment the Third Coming of Christ is happening - Christ is coming into the lives of people all over the world. But in this titled Third Coming, Jesus is unseen, invisible to the naked eye. Because of this the Third Coming presents us with a challenge - believing in him who is unseen. In the Office of Readings for this past Friday, Saint Anselm presented us with a beautiful meditation in which he depicts the soul in a deep longing to see the face of Jesus. "Lord, you are my God and you are my Lord, and I have never seen you. You have made me and remade me, and you have given me all the good things I possess and still I do not know you. I was made in order to see you, and I have not yet done that for which I was made."  Why is this, why has Jesus designed this Third Coming with such a challenge attached to it? It all has to do with Faith. In our natural world seeing is believing. That is why the numbers of Catholic believers is in decline in our part of the world today. Like St. Thomas this age says - unless I see, touch with my fingers . . . without proof I will not believe. The Realm of God with the now glorified Jesus is not made "of" this world, it is not made of physical components. It is made of something wholly "other" than any thing we know. So Jesus being present now happens in an entirely other way - but in no way less real. The word for this is Mystical. The saints from the time of Pentecost to this very day have shown us that we can access this mystical realm now, and when we do we see. This is what is meant by the Spiritual Life, and it is open to any who wish to enter. At Mass, when the celebrant elevates the consecrated host we are looking into the face of Jesus truly present here and now. That is why we say in our hearts the words uttered by St. Thomas, "... my Lord and my God". The one standing beside us, not having a living faith exclaims "... where?...". Christmas is a very visual time, with a multitude of brightly coloured lights, festive decorations, and models of the nativity scene - so much to see. Yes, but do you really see?  Desire for the vision of God - From the Proslogion by Saint Anselm, bishop  Insignificant man, escape from your everyday business for a short while, hide for a moment from your restless thoughts. Break off from your cares and troubles and be less concerned about your tasks and labors. Make a little time for God and rest a while in him. Enter into your mind's inner chamber. Shut out everything but God and whatever helps you to seek him; and when you have shut the door, look for him. Speak now to God and say with your whole heart: I seek your face; your face, Lord, I desire. Lord, my God, teach my heart where and how to seek you, where and how to find you. Lord, if you are not here where shall I look for you in your absence? Yet if you are everywhere, why do I not see you when you are present? But surely you dwell in "light inaccessible." And where is light inaccessible? How shall I approach light inaccessible? Or who will lead me and bring me into it that I may see you there? And then, by what signs and under what forms shall I seek you? I have never seen you, Lord my God; I do not know your face. Lord most high, what shall this exile do, so far from you? What shall your servant do, tormented by love of you and cast so far from your face? He yearns to see you, and your face is too far from him. He desires to approach you, and your dwelling is unapproachable. He longs to find you, and does not know your dwelling place. He strives to look for you, and does not know your face. Lord, you are my God and you are my Lord, and I have never seen you. You have made me and remade me, and you have given me all the good things I possess and still I do not know you. I was made in order to see you, and I have not yet done that for which I was made. Lord, how long will it be? How long, Lord, will you forget us? How long will you turn your face away from us? When will you look upon us and hear us? When will you enlighten our eyes and show us your face? When will you give yourself back to us? Look upon us, Lord, hear us and enlighten us, show us your very self. Restore yourself to us that it may go well with us whose life is so evil without you. Take pity on our efforts and our striving toward you, for we have no strength apart from you. Teach me to seek you, and when I seek you show yourself to me, for I cannot seek you unless you teach me, nor can I find you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you in desiring you and desire you in seeking you, find you in loving you.

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The Three Comings of Christ - Advent 2021

We are about to enter Week Two of Advent, that time when we are preparing for the Coming of Christ the Saviour of the world. We also believe that there will be a Second Coming in which Jesus will bring to an end this order of creation and establish a new heaven and a new earth following the Day of Judgment. But did you know that there is a Third Coming which takes place in time between the First and the Second? This coming is no less real and it is happening now even as we speak. In this coming Jesus' presence is not visible but it is no less real. While we do not see Jesus' present we experience his presence working in us, in the depths of our soul, in our minds and hearts. The First Coming has taken place already in history. The Second Coming is yet to happen in the future. But today we are not alone, on our own, struggling to make sense of this life all by ourselves, Jesus is here with us now leading, guiding and protecting us through each and every day of our lives. As Jesus brought his disciples to the mountain of the Ascension to conclude his First Coming he commissioned them with these words. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age." (Matt. 28:20) Now the Third Coming is about to begin with Pentecost and the anointing of the Church by the Holy Spirit. Jesus continues to be present and working in and through the many ministries of the the Church, especially through the sacraments.  In our popular culture Christmas is beginning to loose its meaning for true Christians; even the name is being replaced with the name 'The Holiday Season'. That is why Advent is such an important time. Yes we revisit the memories of the First Coming but let us not look on Christmas in a nostalgic way, but to be a time of Faith renewal. Jesus is truly here with us now. Let our voices now be heard: "Speak Lord, your servants are listening." + + + + + + + +  Bishop Barron has an excellent video on this same subject "LINK"

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First Sunday of Advent - 2021

With the liturgy of this Sunday we begin a new liturgical year in the Church. This is year C in the three-year cycle of liturgical texts and the main source for the gospel readings will be Luke's gospel. Today's gospel passage, taken from chapter 21 of Luke's gospel, is clearly meant to be a wakeup call to get us started into a new year. Jesus is talking about end times and his second coming and the awesome terrifying things that will proceed it. What Jesus does not say is when all these things will take place. It is not uncommon for us to hear a person claiming to know know exactly when Jesus second coming will take place; even with the very date and time it will happen. What are we to make of these predictions of end times?  In Matthew’s gospel chapter 24:36 and Mark 13:32 we read these very words of Jesus. “ No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” What Jesus does tell us that we must live our lives as if we know it will be tomorrow. “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” On the side panel of this blog, scrolling down will see this heading ... If you klick on "Advent" it will open for you several past posts on this blog with resources for Advent. You may find something that will help you get wholeheartedly into this most important time of preparation .      .

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Jesus Christ King of the Universe Sunday - 2021

Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King Hamilton Ontario CA  This liturgical year now comes to a close with the feast of Jesus Christ the King. The figure of a king may not have the same influence on us as in times past. Our experience of political leadership is one of democracy and majority rule. Even so, there arises those persons who seem to personify the values we value most. To these persons we look for leadership and are willing to follow whole heartily.  The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, has a meditation called, The Two Standards. In this exercise of prayer, Ignatius Draws us into a serious examination of who and what is shaping our life's values and where  our allegiances lay. He puts before us Christ and the Prince of Darkness. One will lead us into paradise, the other into eternal darkness and and death. To whom do we entrust the direction of our lives? To the person who has embraced the practice of prayer and a devout life, the answer may seem obvious. But here a note of caution is advised. Toward well-inattention persons, Satan changes tactics, now appearing as the "angel of light". Seeming to support the choice of a devout life, he employs all manner of deception. With suggestions that may appear to come from God but are not, he will draw the good soul into what is false and away from God's true purpose. In this exercise of the Two Standards, St. Ignatius guides us to be constantly vigilant of the tactics of the Deceiver, so that we do not find ourselves aligned behind the wrong standard bearer. It is ever so important that we learn to recognise the voice of the Lord, the voice of our enemy, and know ourselves. This prayer exercise fits so well during this week of the feast of Christ the King. The liturgy of the Church is anticipating the beginning of a brand new Year of Grace; a perfect time to take stock of our faith and devotion to Christ.  Under Whose Banner Do I Stand? Jesus Christ the King + I have a strong prayer practice. + I look to the Church for guidance on moral and ethical questions. + I see Sunday Eucharist as indispensable. + Participation in parish life remains a high priority. + I support my faith by Reading, both devotional and instructive. The Prince of Darkness # I often set prayer aside until I have the time. # I'm inclined to separated faith from public life. # Sunday Mass must fit into today's busy schedules. # Religion is not as important as a good moral character. # The bible is only a product of human imagining. * * * * * * *

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Thirty-third Sunday - 2021

We are coming to the end of this present liturgical year. Next Sunday is Christ the King, followed by the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of a new year. This year we are now completing is year B in the three-year cycle of Sundays and the gospel of Mark has been the principal source for our gospel readings. Next year is year C and the gospel of Luke will be our gospel source. The gospel readings of late have included references to end times, as we see in today’s gospel. In these days we are reminded that God’s salvific plan for us is contained in a framework of time, as is the whole of creation. It begins in time, unfolds for a time, and when completed the end time arrives. That there is to be an end time we know for certain. What we don’t know is when the end of time will come. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Mark 13:32 The first generation of the Church for the most part believed that the second coming of Christ would be in their time. But this seemed not to be happening and some began scoff at the idea all together. St. Peter addresses this in his Second Letter to the churches. Know this, that in the last days scoffers will come to scoff, living according to their own desires and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? From the time when our ancestors fell asleep, everything has remained as it was from the beginning of creation.” The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out. 2 Pt. 3: Down through the ages there have been predictions of the imminent end of the world which aroused many people with fear. The seniors among you will remember the Cuban missal crisis of 1962. For 13 days, from October 16–28, Russia and the United States stared down the barrels of their atomic bombs at each other. Fear of Armageddon was real and palpable. I was in the seminary at the time and some America students studying with us were notified to be ready to be called home for military duty at any moment. Today a new doomsday warning is being issued to the world from the environmental scientist – that we may be destroying the planet we live on. Added to this, the Covid-19 pandemic has shaken our confidence in the security of our ordinary daily living. These warnings must not be taken lightly.   Sadly there are religious people who claim that they have been given revelations as to when the end of the world will take place. This is causing some devout people to believe these claims - a direct contradiction to Jesus' words in the gospels; (... no one knows, only the Father) Those who buy into such claims often altar their religious practice in ways that cause them to fail in their vocation to work to bring change to the world, giving it a better future by knowing and following the truth of the gospel. But aside from the question of end times, each of us knows well that our own lives are governed by time and like sands in the hourglass time is passing. For the spiritual direction of these days the Church is counselling us to take to heart the many texts of scripture that exhort us to use wisely our God-given days of time and to live holy lives. “Be ready for whatever comes, dressed for action and with your lamps lit, like servants who are waiting for their master to come back from a wedding feast . . . How happy they are if he finds them ready, even if he should come at midnight or even later . . . you, must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting him.” Lk. 12:35 Take some time during these next couple of weeks to check the progress of your spiritual life. How am I doing? What needs to change? What might I do better? Am I ready for that knock at my door?

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November - Month of the Living Eternal

November is commonly thought of as the month of the dead. Many cultures around the world observe various rituals honouring the dead. November itself with the dying off of all the beautiful summer plants, the shorter days and longer nights, the many animals migrating away or hibernating out of sight all have a certain resemblance to death. The Church also uses November as a month to reflect on death but with a radical different perspective. What began in the Easter season with its focus on resurrection and new life is now in November viewed not as being lost but rather as being fulfilled. Of all the things that we face in life death is the most haunting - but not for the believer. Death as a destroyer has itself been destroyed by the Prince of Life. The transformed mind of the believer sees death not as a grave but as a door, as door through which one passes to gain even more life, the fulness of life. As you listen to the voices of the saints you hear them speak of a kind of longing for death. Some people see this as being a sign of some kind of mental distortion in the saints thinking. What these critics do not see is what the saints do see – life and more life, life without end. As our faith deepens, we too will be able to speak of death, not in a morbid, fearful way but as that threshold, that stairway, that open doorway in which we see these open arms of so many beckoning us. Saint Bernard, abbot speaks so convincingly of this in a sermon which the Church sets before us as the second reading in the Office of Readings for the Solemnity of All Saints. Second reading From a sermon by Saint Bernard, abbot Let us make haste to our brethren who are awaiting us. Why should our praise and glorification, or even the celebration of this feast day mean anything to the saints? What do they care about earthly honors when their heavenly Father honors them by fulfilling the faithful promise of the Son? What does our commendation mean to them? The saints have no need of honor from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning. Calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company, so desirable in itself. We long to share in the citizenship of heaven, to dwell with the spirits of the blessed, to join the assembly of patriarchs, the ranks of the prophets, the council of apostles, the great host of martyrs, the noble company of confessors and the choir of virgins. In short, we long to be united in happiness with all the saints. But our dispositions change. The Church of all the first followers of Christ awaits us, but we do nothing about it. The saints want us to be with them, and we are indifferent. The souls of the just await us, and we ignore them. Come, brothers, let us at length spur ourselves on. We must rise again with Christ; we must seek the world which is above and set our mind on the things of heaven. Let us long for those who are longing for us, hasten to those who are waiting for us, and ask those who look for our coming to intercede for us. We should not only want to be with the saints, we should also hope to possess their happiness. While we desire to be in their company, we must also earnestly seek to share in their glory. Do not imagine that there is anything harmful in such an ambition as this; there is no danger in setting our hearts on such glory. When we commemorate the saints, we are inflamed with another yearning: that Christ our life may also appear to us as he appeared to them and that we may one day share in his glory. Until then we see him, not as he is, but as he became for our sake. He is our head, crowned, not with glory, but with the thorns of our sins. As members of that head, crowned with thorns, we should be ashamed to live in luxury; his purple robes are a mockery rather than an honor. When Christ comes again, his death shall no longer be proclaimed, and we shall know that we also have died, and that our life is hidden with him. The glorious head of the Church will appear, and his glorified members will shine in splendor with him, when he forms this lowly body anew into such glory as belongs to himself, its head. Therefore, we should aim at attaining this glory with a wholehearted and prudent desire. That we may rightly hope and strive for such blessedness, we must above all seek the prayers of the saints. Thus, what is beyond our own powers to obtain will be granted through their intercession.

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November - All Saints - All Souls

The month of November begins with two important liturgical celebrations. November first we have The Solemnity of All Saints, and November second we have the The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed or All Souls Day as we commonly refer to it. In the liturgy, the Church prays, 

Grant we pray, O Lord, that your departed servants,

for whom we have celebrated this paschal Sacrament,

may pass over to a dwelling place of light and peace.

Through Christ our Lord.

This prayer is rooted in one of the church's tenants of faith, that of Purgatory. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church we read;

 III. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY 

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin."609 From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.610 The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

The prayer above speaks of souls, "...passing over to a dwelling place of light and peace". So where exactly is Purgatory and how does it work?

We understand our reality in terms of place and time - here not there, and now not when. We speak of heaven as up and hell as down, so purgatory must be somewhere in between. But in the spiritual realm these do not apply. Place becomes state or condition that defines a soul - consolation flowing from seeing God - desolation from the soul's blindness to God's love. Time is the eternal now or the eternal presence of God.

During one's life on earth, a soul may be quite blind to the truth of God. Rather than learning of the holiness of God and the need to conform one's life in imitation of that holiness, a person may choose to fashion their life around any number of unholy ways of living, which they proudly call, "my own truth".

When that soul dies, this state of self delusion remains with them. Now, stripped of all the "things" that consoled them in life, they are left with only emptiness - grieving the loss of all they had, leaving that soul in the desolation of eternal regret. 

Now, being in this "state", this condition of soul, is it possible for such souls to learn of God's holiness and love for them and finally allow His love to embrace them? Yes, and this is Purgatory, the "purging", the "purification", of all that has blinded them and possessed them in their earthly life. Finally they see, and this Vision of Love, this Beatific Vision fills their empty souls with consolation and peace. 

It is also part of our understanding of Purgatory and its process of purgation, that we can, by our prayers of intercession, help them surrender to God's love, as we have done. Our voices of prayer and intercession are not meant to persuade God to show them mercy, rather that they will hear these many voices of encouragement from others who faced their sinful pride and surrendered to this process of healing - who renounced their prideful ways and turned back with only this to claim: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."

A Meditation on Purgatory. 

Three men gather on the steps of the church, preparing to enter as the great doors are opened. These doors that are as real as the doors through which we pass from this world into eternity - to enter the sanctuary where the God of mercy and love is present. The choir voices, singing the praises of God, break forth from the church as the doors begin to open, filling the hearts of these faithful souls yet waiting with joyful anticipation. The first man enters like a son in his home.

But, the second man hesitates, waiting for all to enter ahead of him. He does not count himself among the others nor does he share their joyful expectation.  What awaits him inside he knows not, except that guilt and shame covers his heart and fear of rejection and condemnation defines his condition.

Alone in his darkness, feeling no right to be here, his soul begins to hear the voices of praise, the words of the prayers, the scripture readings, the gospel story of Publican "... not even lifting up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" begins to penetrate his darkness. He sees at last what he denied himself in life because of his pride. Consolation begins to fill his heart as forgiveness floods into his soul. At last he takes his place with the others as they are all carried up into the love of God.

So Purgatory is not a question of where but when. Even now it begins as the soul starts to experience the emptiness its foolish pride has produced.  How often he has passed by these doors, these steps that are counted out like the days allotted to his life - passed by without a thought to their importance. Now, haunted by regret and self condemnation, a Voice like none of the others breaks through - calling, inviting, to return to the steps so long ignored. Purgatory happens in the heart where the healing gift of Mercy is administered. The soul is allowed to experience the darkness of hell its deeds have merited. Then as this prodigal son mounts the steps of the Fathers house, he see the great doors open, like arms of welcome and forgiveness. Purgatory is working its healing - another son is coming home.

But there were three men, what of the third? If heaven is up, then hell must be down, down the steps and into the night. Will the Father lose his son forever? Who knows for sure but the Father alone. He arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:11

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