A November reflection ...
The following thoughts are from the Chaplain of the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society -- a 27-year-old American diocean priest who remembers the Society at every Mass he says, and will continue to do so for as long as our Good God allows him to minister to His children.
And don't forget to send in the names of the souls you want enrolled. The next posting is next Thursday.
A reminder on how to enroll souls: please email me at cpaulitz@yahoo.com and submit as follows: "name, state, country." If you want to enroll entire families, simply write in the email: "The Pacelli family, Rome, Italy". Individual names are preferred. Be greedy -- send in as many as you wish and forward this posting to friends as well.
Chaplain's Reflection:
November is a month when we reflect on how fragile life is, and contemplate what comes after this life. At the beginning of the month, the Church throughout the world celebrated the solemnities of All Saints and All Souls. Throughout this month -- dreary and gray as it often is -- our thoughts are turned toward the Four Last Things -- death and judgment, eternal punishment and eternal reward.
We are reminded in faith of how close we are to those who have gone before us on our pilgrimage toward eternal life. But as God's creation around us grows old and the leaves are shed from living vegetation, the Eucharistic Sacrifice comes to us like a light shining in darkness.
We are indeed brought face to face with the Messiah, in whom all things live. Every Holy Mass is offered for the deceased and offered in union with the heavenly court surrounding the Triune God. As we know, it is a great act of charity and mercy to pray for our brothers and sisters.
The Church's teaching on purgatory is an especially great consolation, as it is a reminder that our final words on earth are not God's last word on us, and simply our final purifying passage on the journey toward the Kingdom of Heaven.
We remember with love and thanksgiving our brothers and sisters who have died, and we look forward to that time when Jesus Christ, who is All in all, will come to "make all things new."
As the liturgical year ends and we anticipate the birth of the Savior in the humble crib of Bethlehem, we pray:
Come, Lord Jesus!
And please remember to follow @RorateCaeli on Twitter.
