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October 25, 2019ALL SAINTS DAY, Friday, NOVEMBER 1 - HOLYDAY OF OBLIGATION- This annual celebration in the Church reminds us that we are all called to be saints. On this day we honor not just the many canonized saints but also all those who have gone before us and are now in Heaven, where all of us hope to be one day. This Feast demonstrates the great respect we have for holy men and holy women of the past. Honoring the Saints reminds us of our own goal of attaining Heaven as a reward for our efforts in living out the Gospel of Jesus in our everyday lives! We will celebrate Mass as we normally do at 8am on Friday but also an additional Mass at 6pm on Friday evening.
ALL SOULS DAY, Saturday, NOVEMBER 2 – Mass for our beloved dead at 8:30am. Okay I know this is a big ask, but I am hoping that there will be a few faithful folks who will take on my challenge to make a spiritual retreat during the first three days of November. And for those for whom college football is the religion of choice during the Fall, you can make this retreat without missing a game. Do you value your relationship with God enough to attend Mass three days in a row: Friday for All Saints Day, Saturday for All Soul’s Day and Sunday for the Lord’s Day?
After the All Soul’s Day Mass on Saturday, Jean Donovan and I will lead a morning Retreat on the Mystery of Death. Dr. Donovan is a theologian and author of several books. Among other places she has taught at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and St. John Seminary in Camarillo, CA. The Retreat will include two presentations, time for silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and time for discussion. It will conclude with a free lunch at the Beachview BnB for the first 12 who sign up.
I know the name Odilo is already special to many in our faith community as we associate with a very special man, Odilo Blanco. But it was special to me long before I got to Tybee. My great aunt was Sr. Mary Odilo, IHM. And it was about 1000 years ago that St. Odilo of Cluny set aside November 2 as a day to pray for deceased monks of his Monastery. The practice quickly spread to the universal Church.
Why pray for the dead? Well, there are some who after death can immediately accept the fullness of God’s love. But others, like me, might be a little remedial and are blow away by the completeness of God’s love for us. The Catechism says, “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still are 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. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification” (1030–1031).
Fr. Jerry Ragan
