Odo of Cluny

Saint Odo of Cluny

memorial
18 November

Profile

Our Saint today was born back in the 9th century in what we call France today. The year was 879. He studied theology in Paris and joined the clergy at the tender age of 19. After his studies he spent years as a near-hermit in a cell, studying and praying, the Theology classes must have been brutal. He joined the Benedictines and became a full time monk, bringing with him all his worldly possessions; a library of about 100 books.

In 931, the Pope asked Odo to clean up all the monasteries in Northern France and Italy, which he did most effectively. He was fairly bright, well noted for his administrative abilities, his skills as a reformer, and as a writer. He is also well known for personal acts of charity, it is said at least once he literally gave the poor the clothes off his back. The “reforming“Huguenots burned most of his relics in the “glorious” Protestant reformation.

He once left a book on the life of Saint Martin of Tours in the cellar of the monastery of Cluny. During a torrential downpour he sent a novice down to retrieve it. The cellar was flooded, but the book was undamaged. The big debate over the dinner table at the monastery became, was it because it was a book about Saint Martin, or was it because it was Odo’s book? Odo insisted it was the former, but whatever, he then became patron for rain…beneficial rain.  Like I said, Theology can be brutal sometimes.....

 He Died on 18 November 942 in Tours, France.

Hugh of Lincoln

 Today is the feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, one of the patrons of my daughter; we did Lizzie last year.

Saint Hugh of Lincoln

Also known as
Hugh of Avalon
Hugh of Burgundy

Memorial
17 November

Profile
Our saint today was orphaned at a young age ans so he was raised and educated at a convent in France. As you might guess with that background he become a Monk at age15 and a Deacon at 19. He later joined the Carthusians and was ordained a priest.

King Henry II, as a part of his penance for murdering Saint Thomas Beckett, built monasteries throughout England. One of these was the first Carthusian Monastery in England, and Hugh was named the first Abbott.

When it came to the Political-Religious relationships of the time, one would think that after that whole row in the cathedral with Tom Becket religious folk would keep their traps shut….not Hugh oh no! He admonished Henry for keeping dioceses vacant in order to keep their income for the throne. Apparently King Henry had still not learned his lesson for real.

After much resistance on our Saint’s part, Hugh was made bishop of Lincoln on 21 September 1181. He cleaned up the place real nice; he restored clerical discipline and rebuilt the Lincoln cathedral. This Cathedral was, ironically, destroyed by earthquake 4 years later. The pessimist in me would have taken that as some sort of a sign.

It is said that a swan would stand near our saint while he slept to guard him from being disturbed or worse yet, attacked. An attack swan, can you beat that? “Get away! or my swan will peck your heart out.”

Hugh denounced the mass persecution of Jews in England in 1190-91, repeatedly facing down armed mobs, making them release their victims. Because of this he was named a diplomat to France for King John in 1199, France is possibly the most anti Semitic country in Europe; look at how their military dealt with Dreyfus, because he was Jewish. King John wanted to stick it to France and send him this bishop known for defending our fathers in faith.

While in France he was shown an arm of St. Mary Magdalene; he pulled out his dagger (yes, bishops carried daggers in the 12th century) and cut away at a finger on the relic while the French monks looked on in stupefied horror. To finish the job Hugh pulled the relic to his mouth, bit the finger off (12th century bishops were far less squeamish than most of us are today), and tossed the finger to his assistant (who tells us this story). When asked why he would bite a saint’s relic, Hugh replied: I put my mouth on the body of Christ every day; why would I treat his saints differently? (Catholic Digest, 7/11)

This trip ruined his health. In the year 1200, while attending a national council in London a few months after the cadaver incident, he was stricken with an unnamed ailment, and died two months later; probably from biting cadaverous fingers. He was canonized in 1220, the first Carthusian to be formally recognized as a saint.

Patronage
sick children
sick people
swans

Edmund Rich

Saint Edmund

Also known as
Edmund of Abingdon
Edmund of Canterbury
Edme of Abingdon
Edmund Rich
The saint the school the boys work at, is named after

Memorial
16 November
30 May in Abingdon, England like that means anything…..

Profile
Our Saint today was born in the year 1180, to a wealthy yet pious family, “Rich” was a medieval appellation attributed to his father due to his wealth, like ‘cooper” or “smith” Edmund never really used the surname while alive. His family was quite religious. His father became a monk later in life and his two sisters became nuns. From a very young age Edmund practiced religious simplicity and severity; throughout his life he wore sackcloth next to his skin, and to insure proper irritation he pressed it against his body by metal plates. After snatching a few hours' sleep without removing his clothing, he usually spent the rest of the night in prayer and meditation. Not like sitting on a pillar for 30 years but pretty out there nonetheless. If the Mets were around then he probably try to add to his suffering by buying a season ticket.

While studying at Oxford he received a vision of the Child Christ, instructing him to pursue the religious life. After his ordination he became a professor of art, mathematics et al at Oxford which is ranked by some as the fifth most prestigious University in the world today. University College London (UCL) is ranked as fourth…..

He was a friend and advisor to King Henry III who nominated him to be Archbishop of Canterbury.

His piety saw a problem with England paying money to the Vatican to use in fighting foreign wars. The political whim of the day put Ed in opposition to his own religious order and King Henry III. The thinking of that time was that financial and martial support to the Vatican was one’s Christian Duty. Besides, Henry III probably remembered that whole business, Henry II had with Tom Becket.

Late in, 1237, he set out for Rome, hoping to enlist the pope on the side of ecclesiastical reform. As you would expect this appeal was futile as Rome needed funds to fight its war with Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Don’t get me started on Emperor Fred Deuce. He was another character who really thought he was a Caesar, his contemporaries called him “the wonder of the world”.

When the Pope told him he needed the cash and the martial support from England Our Saint returned to home to find himself reduced to an inconsequential Archbishop. No one in or out of the monasteries paid attention to him, needless to say the King at that time, continued to pay Rome what it asked.

In the summer of 1240, broken in spirit, he retired, probably to eat worms, to the same abbey in France his predecessor, Thomas Becket held up in, when he was in exile from Canterbury. Only a few months later Our Saint died, on 16 November 1240.

In less than a year after his death miracles were reported at his grave. Initially, King Henry III objected to his cause for sainthood for political reasons, so it was not until this objection as lifted in 1247 that our Saint was seriously considered.

Saint Edmund’s incorruptible right arm is currently located at the St. Edmund retreat center Chapel on Ender's Island, CT, near Mystic, (see the picture above).  Ender's Island is a beautiful place and I highly recommend it if you ever need a spiritual re-charge. Come for the arm…stay for the spirituality. They make great jams and jellies too….the staff is wonderful. https://www.endersisland.com/

Albertus Magnus

Saint Albertus Magnus

Also known as
• Albert the Great
Albert of Cologne
• Doctor Expertus
• Doctor Universalis

Memorial
• 15 November

Profile
Our saint today was the brilliant son of a nobleman; Albert however, became a Dominican Priest. He was the teacher and spiritual guide to St. Thomas Aquinas, who is also brilliant but corpulent. Through his life, Al was an influential teacher, preacher, and administrator. He was among the first to comment on all of the writings of Aristotle, thereby making them accessible to the more common folk.

In the year 1260 Pope Alexander VI made him bishop. As bishop he introduced Greek and Arabic science and philosophy to medieval Europe. His study of these natural sciences removed the taint of suspicion about them that was widespread among laypeople at the time. Only Nixon could go to China. He served as bishop for only 3 years, resigning in order to continue his study, and because he felt himself unworthy.

His passion, other than theology, was for the natural sciences… botany, biology, etc. He wrote and illustrated guides to his observations, and was considered on a par with Aristotle as an authority on these matters. He is credited with the discovery of the element Arsenic. Some later writings say he dabbled in alchemy. According to legend, Albertus Magnus is said to have discovered the philosopher's stone and passed it to his pupil Thomas Aquinas, shortly before his death. Since Thomas died before Albert, I don’t think this is possible. In any case we Harry Potter fans know for a fact the Philosophers Stone was discovered by Nicholas Flamel, Dumbledore’s friend.

Dante had a real thing for Albertus, he placed him in the Heaven of the Sun in his Divine Comedy, along with his pupil Thomas Aquinas, both as great lovers of wisdom. According to Mary Shelly, Albertus Magnus was also a big influence on Victor Frankenstein M.D. He was named a Doctor of the Church in 1931, Albert, not Frankenstein. College buildings, Schools and Universities are named for him all over the place.

In a tragedy of gargantuan proportions, some writings describe his later years in a way that suggest he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. It must have been a real cross to bear for this brilliant man to realize his mind was going.

Born
• 1206 Swabia

Died
• 15 November 1280 Prussia

Patronage
Alzheimer’s disease
• medical technicians
• natural sciences
• philosophers
• schoolchildren
• scientists
• students
• theology students

Representation
• man dressed as a Dominican bishop lecturing from a pulpit
• man arguing with Saint Thomas Aquinas

Josaphat

 

Saint Josaphat

 

Also known as

Josaphat Kuncevyc

Jehoshaphat Kuncewycz

John Kunsevich

Josaphat Kuntsevych

Josaphat of Polotsk

Jozofat Kuncewicz

Memorial

 12 November

Profile

 Our Saint today was raised as a Ruthenian Orthodox nut.   In 1595 the Ruthenian church looked in the mirror and said “look at these dopey hats we’re wearing,” and rejoined the Church in Rome.     Josaphat felt a call to the religious life and so he turned down a business partnership and a marriage to his partner’s daughter to pursue it.  

 

He became a monk a priest in the Byzantine Rite Catholic Church taking the name  Josaphat.    As the East West union was still a hot button issue back then, and still today, Our Saint’s monastic superior, Samuel, never accepted the reunification, and actively fought against it.    You can still see these knuckleheads today…they’re the ones who turned their backs on Pope Saint John Paul II when he came to visit them in a spirit of Love and Fraternity back in the 1990’s.   And the Devil laughs.   

      

Josaphat learned of Samuel’s work, he understood the damage it was causing in the entire Eastern Catholic Church so he squealed on Samuel.    The archbishop of Kiev became furious, removed Samuel from his post, replacing him with Josaphat.

 

Josaphat was a famous preacher and great leader who believed unity was the best course of action and one The Master would want.  Through his work and belief he brought many Orthodox to the sensible hat side of Christendom.    This was all at a time when most religious, fearing interference with the locally developed liturgy and customs, did not want union with Rome.    

 

 With his teaching, clerical reform, and personal example Josaphat won the greater part of the Orthodox in Lithuania to the union. In needing to compromise where compromise was possible, and by being diplomatic and pastoral to all his actions were viewed by both East and West as subversive; neither side was really happy with him.  You can’t be everything for all.    

 

His piety and sincerity were very clear to everyone though; he was made Archbishop and as such attended the Diet of Warsaw in 1620.   A Diet is sort of a meeting it isn’t necessarily a way to restrict carbohydrates or fats.   Anyhoo, a bunch of Cossacks, set up an anti-Unity  bishop for each Unity one,  they spread the accusation that Josaphat had “gone Latin,” and that his followers would be forced to do the same, and placed a usurper on the archbishop‘s chair.

 

Like his secretary, Lincoln, told President Kennedy, not to go to Dallas, and Lincoln's secretary Kennedy told him not to go to the theater, many of his advisers told our Saint it was not a good idea to go speak to this controversy directly...Eschewing this advice, Josaphat went to the midst of this discontent in an effort to clarify things and to correct this misunderstanding.  

 

Late in 1623 a subversive, recalcitrant priest named Elias shouted insults at Josaphat from his own courtyard, and tried to force his way into the residence.    The Army, who was loyal to the King, who in turn was loyal to Josaphat, removed the heckler.     This caused a mob to form demanding the release of the trespassing priest.   As is still clearly demonstrated today, when mobs gather reason goes away, mob mentality takes over.   The senseless violent thugs invaded the residence, looking for store windows to smash in order to loot TV sets. 

 

 Josaphat insured the safety of his servants before trying, unsuccessfully, to get away himself, and was martyred, quite convincingly, by the mob.   He was struck in the head with a halberd, shot and beaten with staves then his lifeless bodine was thrown into the Dvina River; this all done by people in the name of Christianity, a Faith based on love.    Later on his remains were fished out and recovered.    His death was a shock to both sides of the dispute.   Anger cooled and some sanity was restored.   Five years after his death his body was exhumed and found to be incorrupt.   He was canonized by Pope Blessed Pius IX, the first Eastern saint canonized by Rome.  

 

Representation

chalice

crown

winged deacon

 

Readings

You people of Vitebsk want to put me to death. You make ambushes for me everywhere, in the streets, on the bridges, on the highways, and in the marketplace. I am here among you as a shepherd, and you ought to know that I would be happy to give my life for you. I am ready to die for the holy union, for the supremacy of Saint Peter, and of his successor the Supreme Pontiff. - Saint Josaphat

Martin of Tours

Saint Martin of Tours

Also known as
• Martin the Merciful
• The Glory of Gaul

Memorial
 11 November

   

Profile

Today’s Saint has more churches named in his honor, worldwide, than any other saint excluding the Blessed Mother.  With all that said, Martin of Tours was the first non-martyr to be revered as a saint.   He is a veteran so it is also appropriate that his feast is on Veteran’s Day.  

 

Martin, like his father, was a Roman soldier, an officer assigned to garrison duty in Gaul; modern day France.

 

The big story goes that while on horseback he encountered a naked beggar. Having nothing to give but the clothes on his back, Martin cut his heavy officer’s cloak in half, and gave it to the beggar.    Later he had a vision of Christ wearing the half of the cloak he gave the beggar.

 

Due to his faith Martin became a pacifist.   In the Roman Army this was a big problem.  He was jailed and was about to be sent to the front line as punishment for cowardice.    Whether it was the arrayed Roman Army or the Holy Spirit the enemy sued for peace and no battle ensued.     With his commitment up Martin left the military.  

 

Martin became a student of St. Hilary in 361, and then became a hermit.   He had a big reputation for holiness which attracted other monks to his circle.

 

Preached and evangelized through the Gallic countryside this was a tough task at the time because many locals held strongly to the old beliefs, and tried to intimidate Martin by dressing as the old Roman gods and appearing to him at night.   The guy who dressed as Morpheus was particularly disturbing as his snoring paradoxically kept Martin awake all night.   No matter, Martin destroyed old temples, built churches on the same land, and continued to win converts.

 

When the bishop of Tours, France died in 371, Martin was the immediate choice to replace him. Martin declined, citing unworthiness.    The Christian community got together and had a wealthy citizen of Tours, claim that his wife was ill asking for Martin.   Tricked by this ruse, Martin went to the city where he was declared bishop by popular acclamation, and then consecrated on 4 July 372.

 

He served as a real hands off bishop, he lived in a hermit’s cell near Tours and rarely left his monastery.   Sometimes he went to plead with the emperor for his city, his church, or his parishioners.    Once when he went to ask for lenience for a condemned prisoner, an angel woke the emperor to tell him that Martin was waiting to see him; the prisoner was reprieved.

 

Martin himself was given to visions, but even his contemporaries sometimes ascribed them to his habit of lengthy fasts, he starved himself until he saw things.   

 

His relics were in the basilica of Tours, a scene of pilgrimages and miracles, until 1562 when the cathedral and relics were destroyed by militant Protestants during the “Glorious Reformation.”   For some reason the Hugenots had a real jones against Martin.   And the Devil laughs.  

 

Born

•          c.316 in modern Hungary

Died

•          8 November 397 Tours, France of natural causes. 

 

 

Patronage

•          against alcoholism

•          against impoverishment

•          against poverty

•          beggars

•          cavalry

•          equestrians

•          geese

•          horse men

•          horses

•          hotel-keepers

•          innkeepers

•          Pontifical Swiss Guards

•          quartermasters

•          reformed alcoholics

•          riders

•          soldiers

•          tailors

•          vintners

•          wine growers

•          wine makers

Representation

•          globe of fire

•          goose

•          man on horseback sharing his cloak with beggar

•          man cutting cloak in half

•          man holding aloft a sword and cloak

Pope Leo I

Pope Saint Leo I
Also known as:
Pope Leo the Great

Memorial
10 November,  it used to be 11 April until 1969

Our Saint was elected the 45th Pope in the year 440. Although there were 44 guys before him Leo was the first Pope, from whom, we have some substantial writings.  Leo was chosen from the order of deacons, he was not a Pope before his Papal election.   In fact from the year 437-684 AD, 37 men were chosen as Pope.  All but three were "only" deacons before their elevation to Pope. 

Around this time the Bishops of the other big dioceses, Constantinople in particular, were flexing their muscles and were saying that the Bishop of Rome was not so special anymore, and all bishops were all equal in the hierarchy. Seeing as how the Emperor of Rome was now, no longer, living in Rome but in Constantinople, the Patriarch of that city claimed Papal primacy. This eventually led to that whole Greek Orthodox thing....but it doesn’t explain the Greek Church’s use of those dopey hats.

Another particular troublemaker was the Patriarch of Alexandria, Cyril, who called himself “Pope Cyril”. Leo pointed out that Rome’s Church was founded by Peter, and Alexandria’s Church was founded by Peter’s disciple Mark. Even the Founder of Cyril’s Church would agree he was subservient to Peter. He was the head man not because of the Emperor or where the Empire’s capital was, but because he was the successor to St. Peter. This idea of the primacy of the Bishop of Rome can be traced all the way back to the time of St. Linus, the second Pope and reinforced by the writings of Clement the 4th Pope. It was never a question before so no one needed to publish an edict declaring this fact; everyone accepted it.

Leo persuaded Emperor Valentinian to recognize the primacy of the bishop of Rome in an edict in 445. This basically told Constantinople and Alexandria: “Futue te ipsum et caballum tuum.” (Don’t ask)

The doctrine of the Incarnation was formed by him in a letter to the Patriarch of Constantinople. This became an article of Catholic faith in the East and West.

The secular world knows Leo for his leadership during the upheaval of the fifth century barbarian invasion. As he was seen as the only person of authority in the city he went out to parlay with Attila the Hun. His encounter with Attila at the very gates of Rome persuading him to turn back remains a historical memorial to Leo’s great eloquence. Later when the Vandals occupied the city of Rome, he persuaded the invaders to desist from pillaging the city and harming its inhabitants. He died in 461, leaving many letters and writings of great historical value.

He is one of the 36, soon to be 37, Doctors of the Church. He was the first and still one of only two Popes with the popular appellation “The Great” after his name.

Born
c. 400 in Tuscany

 
Died
November 10, 461

Four Crowned Martyrs

Four Crowned Martyrs
memorial
• 8 November

Profile
Along with the Fourteen Holy Helpers and the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus these guys are my favorite group of Saints. Their cult was a lot more popular back before they tried to make Roman Catholicism less fun. One of the ancient titular churches in Rome is named Santissimi Quattro Coronati, after these fellows, it was erected in the 4th century. The titular pastor of this ancient church is a Cardinal. Right now, that would be Roger Cardinal Mahoney, Cardinal Emeritus from Los Angeles.

Individually they are Saint Castorus, Saint Claudius, Saint Nicostratus, and Saint Simpronian. This quartet was a group of skilled stone carvers in the 3rd century quarries. Their work was highly prized and valued as they were so skilled with the chisel. When our good friend Diocletian wanted an idol done of Aesculapius, the god of medicine and his daughters Hygea and Panancea, our four boys told him to take a hike. Diocletian, as we know, does not have a sense of humor when it came to his pagan gods so….our boys were given the gift of martyrdom by being drowned in the river Sava in the year 305

Patronage
• against fever
• cattle
• masons
• sculptors
• stone masons
• stonecutters

Comasia

Saint Comasia

Commemoration
5 November

Profile:
She was a martyr in the 3rd century in Rome…that’s all I have….When they moved her relics it began raining, so she is the patron saint for rain and against drought….

Charles Borromeo

Saint Charles Borromeo

Also known as
Apostle to the Council of Trent
Carlo Borromeo
Father of the Clergy
The Saint with the big nose

Memorial
4 November

Profile
Our saint today was born to a wealthy, noble family, the third of six children, of a count. Probably because he wasn’t the oldest, or the best looking (he had the proboscis of an anteater) of his siblings, and add to that he suffered with a speech impediment. His family pushed him to the Church. He was educated as a civil and canon lawyer by the age of 21.

He was made a Cardinal before being ordained a priest at age 22 his political and familial ties had absolutely nothing to do with this appointment either (wink). He was ordained a Priest in July of 1563. With the grand experience as a priest for five months he was made bishop of Milan December 1563…nice.

Remember the Papal States were a Country unto themselves with the Pope as the monarch. Vatican City is the last vestige of this today. Charles was apostolic administrator, which is essentially the Governor, of Milan, and various other papal states.

Charlie was instrumental in re-opening the Council of Trent, and participated in its sessions during 1562 and 1563. He worked to reform the Catechism, breviary and missal. As Cardinal, he participated in the conclaves that chose Pope Pius V and Pope Gregory XIII.

Because of his rapid rise in the Church or because some disgruntled monks did not like his enforcement of strict ecclesiastical discipline, the Order of the Humiliati hired a lay brother to murder him on the evening of 26 October 1569; he was shot at, but was not hit. It’s stuff like this that the Catholic Church critics love to hear isn’t it?

All cynicism aside, Saint Charles spent his life and fortune in the service of the people of his diocese. He actually worked with the sick, and helped bury the dead during the plague outbreak in Milan. He directed and fervently enforced the decrees of the Council of Trent, fought tirelessly for peace in the wake of the storm caused by the flatulent Martin Luther, founded schools for the poor, seminaries for clerics, hospitals for the sick, conducted synods, instituted children’s Sunday school, did great public and private penance, and worked among the sick and dying, leading his people by example. He died of a fever in 1584, his will named a hospital as his heir. He was initially buried in the metropolitan cathedral of Milan, but in 1751 his relics were transferred to a chapel built specially for him by Count Renato Borromeo (a rich relative).

Born
2 October 1538
Died
1584

Patronage
against abdominal pain
against colic
against intestinal disorders
against stomach diseases
against ulcers
apple orchards
bishops
catechists
catechumens
seminarians
spiritual directors
spiritual leaders
starch makers

Representation
cardinal wearing a cord around his neck; it symbolizes the cord or halter worn around his neck during the plague of Milan, Italy in 1575
bishop wearing a cord around his neck
cleric curing the sick

Martin de Porres

Saint Martin de Porres

Also known as
•Martín de Porres Velázquez
•Martin of Charity
•Martin the Charitable
•Saint of the Broom (for his devotion to his work, no matter how menial)

Memorial
•3 November

Profile
Our saint today was the child of an unwed freed black slave from Peru; Anna Velasquez and a Spanish nobleman named Juan Somethingorother. As is the way when women are not respected as children of God, but rather as items of male desire, Juan acted like Paul VI said he would, and had nothing to do with Anna or the young Martin.

Martin grew up in poverty. While still very young, in order to support himself he got a job working with a surgeon-barber who taught him some of the trade, haircutting and rudimentary health care; lancing boils scraping rashes, applying leeches, and the like.

When he was 11 he got a job in the local Dominican monastery in Lima, Peru basically as a servant, cleaning up and sweeping. Eventually he was promoted and was sent out to do “fundraising” for the Dominicans which, at the time, was essentially begging on the streets. He was able to beg more than $2,000 a week from the rich to support the poor and sick of Lima. When he was put in charge of the Dominican infirmary he became famous for his extreme tenderness to the sick and poor and his miraculous cures, including raising the dead.

Back in the 1500’s the Dominicans would not permit a black person to be “received to the holy habit or profession of our Order.” This is an example, once again, of how these things happen when we don’t see our fellow man as being created in the image and likeness of God. Even those who profess to be a servant of the Lord can be blinded by the Enemy and made to think they are doing the right thing. This rule was dropped by the Dominicans because of the Lord working through Martin. Our Saint took vows as a Dominican brother in 1603.

Martin worked his whole life in service to the poor and needy, he set up an orphanage and children‘s hospital for the poor children of the slums and even a shelter for the stray cats and dogs. He lived in self-imposed austerity, and, like Mr. Spock, he never ate meat. He fasted continuously, and spent much time in prayer and meditation with a great devotion to the Holy Eucharist. When his order fell on hard times he offered to sell himself into slavery to get money for their mutual support.

He was venerated from the day of his death.

Born
•9 December 1579 at Lima, Peru

Died
•3 November 1639 in Lima, Peru of fever


Patronage
•against rats
•barbers
•bi-racial people
•black people
•for inter-racial justice
•for social justice
•hair stylists
•hairdressers
•hotel-keepers
•innkeepers
•mixed-race people
•paupers
•Peru
•poor people
•public education
•public health
•public schools
•race relations
•racial harmony

Representation
•broom
•crucifix
•dog, cat, bird, and mouse eating together in harmony from a same dish
•rosary

Commemoration of the Faithful Departed

Commemoration of All Souls

memorial
· 2 November
About the Feast

Today is a commemoration of the faithful departed in Purgatory. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines purgatory as a "purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven," which is experienced by those "who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified" (CCC 1030). It notes that "this final purification of the elect . . . is entirely different from the punishment of the damned" (CCC 1031).  So, it is differeant than yesterday's celebration...All Saint's Day commemorates all those souls in haven already...known and unknown.....see yesterday's Saint entry.  

The purification is necessary because, as Scripture teaches, nothing unclean will enter the presence of God in heaven (Rev. 21:27) and, while we may die with our mortal sins forgiven, there can still be many impurities in us, specifically venial sins and the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven. These folk are not yet in heaven so they are not saints.

The flatulent Martin Luther early on in his heretical journey believed in Purgatory, it is even mentioned in the “95 Theses.” When someone pointed out this was not consistent with his theology for how our sins are forgiven he quietly stopped talking about purgatory at all. Catholics believe God’s forgiveness allows us to transcend, or “rise above” our sins…Lutherans teach that God’s forgiveness merely takes away God’s punishment for our sins; we’re still sheep droppings on a hill.

Unlike the classic visions of purgatory so popularly spread around, most notably by Sister Mary Muriel, as being a place of torment and suffering, I always viewed Purgatory as a hospital, where our caring Father tries to mend us; to make us perfect and prepared to enter eternal happiness with him. In other words it is a place of healing rather than punishment. Our prayers become spiritual Get Well Cards, for those there. Leaf by Niggle by JRR Tolkien, is a short story, and is the clearest vision of Purgatory I have ever read. I recommend it.

A lesson someone once told me about my own behavior here on Earth was, “Live your life so as to aim to reach Heaven, if you only aim to reach Purgatory…you may miss…”

My Saint friends, I ask you to remember, in your prayers today, the souls of my departed loved ones and I promise I will do the same for you…. Thanks!

Feast of All Saints

Feast of All Saints
Solemnity
· 1 November

About the Feast

Let’s understand; we who follow the Lord are already members of the Communion of Saints; God’s heavenly family, The Kingdom of God is at Hand. In many writings of the Early Church all members of a Christian Community were called saints meaning Holy Ones, or Good Ones.

When we say, “Saint” today, we generally refer to those exclusive members of the Communion of Saints who have passed through this life, a time of purification, and now continue to exist throughout eternity after death in God’s presence in Heaven. So, in spite of what many of you say, the Whip cannot be a Saint until she is dead….

A Saint therefore is not limited to only those officially recognized by the Church, like the folk we discuss every day in our emails. It could be that poor dude with the floppy old fedora who gave a buck every day to the homeless man outside the church of St. Stephen on 28th street on the east side, without fanfare or recognition of any kind…on Earth.

Today is the feast of All Saints. Today we remember all the Saints in Heaven…the ones recognized by the church, like the ones we discuss every day, and the ones that we don’t know about or are not publicly recognized…like my Uncle Bill, who sported a floppy fedora and lived on east 27th street, or Sister Helen my 8th grade teacher who lived in the Bronx.

Today is indeed a Solemnity and a Holy Day of Obligation. A big deal in the church and it has been since the year 610 or so. It was moved around a bit on the calendar until we finally settled on November 1st. Today has been called All Saints Day, the Feast of All Saints, and All Hallows Day (All Holy Day). Which is why last night was called All Hallows Eve or in Middle English, Halloween.

It is not possible for us to know all the people who have attained their eternal reward in Heaven; we can never know what good was in everyone who ever lived…only HE can….and does. So today we celebrate everyone we know and those we don’t know….in Heaven. Even if they’re not canonized formally nor have a feast day, they’re all saints.

May I direct your attention to Revelation 7:13-17? John the Divine describes an uncountable multitude before the throne of the Father; he isn’t talking about a Lady Gaga Concert here:

Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, "Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?"

I said to him, "My Lord, you are the one who knows." He said to me, "These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

"For this reason they stand before God's throne and worship him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.

 They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them.

For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

When you read that it is pretty cool isn’t it? I hope someday to be wearing a white robe…and I don’t mean an Alb either, I wish the same for you.