Notes/Sermons
THOSE WHOSE REST IS WON
Each year the Church begins the Month of November with a thunderous acclamation of the Church Triumphant in Heaven: “All Saints’ Day”. In the words of a Missal note:
During the year the Church celebrates one by one the feasts of the saints. Today she joins them all in one festival. In addition to those whose names she knows, she recalls in a magnificent vision all the others “of all nations and tribes standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands,” proclaiming Him who redeemed them in His Blood. (St. Andrew Missal, 1958 edition)
The Church’s Liturgy for this day of All Saints is one of unmitigated joy. Dom Prosper Guéranger, O.S.B., describes it as the Church “so overflowing with joy, that she seems to be already in possession of eternal happiness.” (The Liturgical Year)
The thought of the crown of eternal life won by our loved ones who have died ought to help us manage the inevitable grief caused to us by their loss. “Year by year, as the great solemnity comes round, it has gathered from among our former companions new saints, who bless our tears and smile upon our songs of hope.” (Guéranger) The thought of the great assembly of the Blessed ought also to keep us mindful of our own last end. “Year by year the appointed time draws nearer, when we ourselves, seated at the heavenly banquet, shall receive the homage of those who succeed us, and hold out a helping hand to draw them after us to the home of everlasting happiness.” (idem)
The Feast of All Saints, November 1st, is followed directly by the Commemoration of All Souls, November 2nd. These holy souls are saints too. What distinguishes them from the saints of the Church Triumphant in Heaven is that—from the point of view of our solar time— they are still undergoing that mysterious soulpurification after death which is called “Purgatory”. Hence the distinction we make between the “Church Triumphant” in Heaven and the “Church Suffering” in Purgatory. The Church on earth is the “Church Militant.”
It is part of our duty in both justice and charity to make prayer and sacrifice for all of the faithful departed, especially for our own family and friends. This is a duty we should be carrying out all the time, but especially during these days of November which is the Month of Remembrance for the Dead. As in past years, All Souls envelopes are available to you at the entrance tables to the church if you wish to list their names and make a memorial gift. These envelopes, as they are received, will be placed on the altar for all of our parish Masses from November 2nd thru November 30th: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine down upon them.”
Fr. Higgins
Quick Links
MOST RECENT POSTINGS
January 31, 2021 - read more ...
January 24, 2021 - read more ...
January 10, 2021 - read more ...
January 3, 2021 - read more ...
December 27, 2020 - read more ...
December 20, 2020 - read more ...
December 13, 2020 - read more ...
December 6, 2020 - read more ...
November 29, 2020 - read more ...
DEDICATION OF THE CHURCH OF
MARY IMMACULATE OF LOURDES,
Newton Upper Falls, MA
November 22, 2020 - read more ...
November 15, 2020 - read more ...
November 8, 2020 - read more ...
November 1, 2020
October 25, 2020 - read more ...
October 18, 2020 - read more ...
October 11, 2020 - read more ...
October 4, 2020 - read more ...
September 27, 2020 - read more ...
September 20, 2020 - read more ...
September 13, 2020 - read more ...
September 6, 2020 - read more ...
August 23, 2020 - read more ...
1856-1925
"How can you be lonely with Christ in the Tabernacle?"
August 16, 2020 - read more ...
August 9, 2020 - read more ...
August 2, 2020 - read more ...
July 26, 2020 - read more ...
1550-1614 A.D.
July 19, 2020 - read more ...
July 12, 2020 - read more ...
June 28, 2020 - read more ...
June 21, 2020 - read more ...
June 14, 2020 - read more ...
June 7, 2020 - read more ...
May 31, 2020 - read more ...
May 24, 2020 - read more ...
May 10, 2020 - read more ...
May 3, 2020 - read more ...
April 26, 2020 - read more ...
April 12, 2020 - read more ...
March 22, 2020 - read more ...
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE MASS PILGRIMAGE AND THE CAUSE OF ROYALIST FRANCE
March 15, 2020 - read more ...
March 8, 2020 - read more ...
March 1, 2020 - read more ...
February 23, 2020 - read more ...
January 26, 2020 - read more ...
January 19, 2020 - read more ...
NOVEMBER 24th, 1910
(THANKSGIVING DAY)
November 24, 2019 - read more ...
November 17, 2019 - read more ...
November 3, 2019 - read more ...
October 27, 2019 - read more ...
October 20, 2019 - read more ...
October 13, 2019 - read more ...
October 6, 2019 - read more ...
September 29, 2019 - read more ...
September 22, 2019 - read more ...
September 15, 2019 - read more ...
September 8, 2019 - read more ...
September 1, 2019 - read more ...
August 11, 2019 - read more ...
August 4, 2019 - read more ...
July 28, 2019 - read more ...
July 21, 2019 - read more ...
July 14, 2019 - read more ...
July 7, 2019 - read more ...
June 16, 2019 - read more ...
June 9, 2019 - read more ...
(Photos by Rod Phillips)
June 2, 2019 - read more ...
May 19, 2019 - read more ...
May 12, 2019 - read more ...
May 5, 2019 - read more ...
April 28, 2019 - read more ...
(Concluding Conference: April 12th, 2019)
April 21, 2019 - read more ...
(Conference V: April 5th, 2019)
April 14, 2019 - read more ...
(Conference IV: March 22nd, 2019)
April 7, 2019 - read more ...
(Conference III: March 22nd, 2019)
March 31, 2019 - read more ...
(Conference II: March 15th, 2019)
March 24, 2019 - read more ...
(Conference I: March 8th, 2019)
March 17, 2019 - read more ...
March 10, 2019 - read more ...
March 3, 2019 - read more ...
February 24, 2019 - read more ...
February 17, 2019 - read more ...
February 10, 2019 - read more ...
February 3, 2019 - read more ...
January 13, 2019 - read more ...
December 23, 2018 - read more ...
December 16, 2018 - read more ...
December 9, 2018 - read more ...
December 2, 2018 - read more ...
November 25, 2018 - read more ...
November 18, 2018 - read more ...
November 11, 2018 - read more ...
November 4, 2018 - read more ...
October 28, 2018 - read more ...
October 21, 2018 - read more ...
October 14, 2018 - read more ...
October 7, 2018 - read more ...
September 30, 2018 - read more ...
September 16, 2018 - read more ...
September 9, 2018 - read more ...
September 2, 2018 - read more ...
August 26, 2018 - read more ...
August 19, 2018 - read more ...
August 12, 2018 - read more ...
July 29, 2018 - read more ...
July 22, 2018 - read more ...
July 15, 2018 - read more ...
July 8, 2018 - read more ...
July 1, 2018 - read more ...
June 24, 2018 - read more ...
May 6, 2018 - read more ...
April 29, 2018 - read more ...
Conference V, Friday, March 23, 2018 A.D.
April 1, 2018 - read more ...
Conference IV, Friday, March 16, 2018 A.D.
March 25, 2018 - read more ...
Conference III, March 9th, 2018 A.D.
March 18, 2018 - read more ...
March 11, 2018 - read more ...
Conference II, February 23rd, 2018 A.D.
March 4, 2018 - read more ...
Conference I, February 16th, 2018
February 25, 2018 - read more ...
February 18, 2018 - read more ...
February 11, 2018 - read more ...
January 21, 2018 - read more ...
January 7, 2018 - read more ...
December 31, 2017 - read more ...
December 24, 2017 - read more ...
December 17, 2017 - read more ...
December 10, 2017 - read more ...
December 3, 2017 - read more ...
November 26, 2017 - read more ...
November 19, 2017 - read more ...
November 12, 2017 - read more ...
October 29, 2017 - read more ...
October 22, 2017 - read more ...
October 1, 2017 - read more ...
January 15, 2017 - read more ...
January 8, 2017 - read more ...
December 18, 2016 - read more ...
December 11, 2016 - read more ...
December 4, 2016 - read more ...
November 27, 2016 - read more ...
November 20, 2016 - read more ...
November 13, 2016 - read more ...
October 30, 2016 - read more ...
October 16, 2016 - read more ...
October 9, 2016 - read more ...
October 2, 2016 - read more ...