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During November, we celebrate the feasts of All Saints, All Souls, and Christ the King.
At the end of November, we also begin Advent, when we prayerfully, patiently await Christ’s birth.
All Saints’ Day
All Saints’ Day is a holy day which we celebrate on November 1. We honor those who have been canonized and whom the Church declares are in Heaven.
To be recognized as a canonized saint, the Church first makes a lengthy examination of the candidate to determine if he or she is a person of heroic virtue.
If the process verifies that they are, he or she is given the title of “Venerable,” an honor which Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, who served our diocese, has received.
The next steps are completed when the Church declares the candidate “Blessed” and finally “Saint.”
Both steps are dependent upon a miracle through the candidate’s intercession which is God’s confirmation of the candidate’s sanctity.
Canonization does not put someone in Heaven. It recognizes that the candidate is already there.
On All Saints’ Day, we honor those who lived Christ-like lives, but who are not canonized.
These include numerous men, women, and children united with God in Heavenly glory.
All Saints’ Day can be called the feast of the Unknown Saint, in line with the tradition of the “Unknown Soldier.”
In no. 2013 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church it says, “All Christians in any state of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity. All are called to holiness. ‘Be perfect as the heavenly father is perfect.'”
Christ-like examples
When I hear children’s confessions after I give them absolution, sometimes I ask them who reminds them of Jesus. They often answer mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, friends, teachers, and others who touch their lives.
Mother Teresa once gave a talk at a Methodist church.
Colleen Townsend Evans, the church’s pastor, was so moved by her Christ-like love of the poor that she wanted to hug her. Instead she asked, “Mother what can we do to help you? We will raise money, pray for you, or send helpers.”
Mother smiled and replied, “Love your family.”
In no. 2223 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church it says “Parents have a grave responsibility to give their children good example.”
Knowledge of Catholicism and living a Christ-like life are needed more than ever by parents and children because of the modern influence of secular values.
Responsible parents help their children learn by example to respect teachers, classmates, and adults.
Many canonized saints were greatly influenced by their parents, some who were surely uncanonized saints.
Mother Teresa said that we are not called to do great things, but little things with great love. Parents do many little things with great love.
A Christian comedian said that if little children were not supervised, they might be injured or even die. When I was little, I swallowed an overdose of aspirin and the rumor was that I died. The doctor saved me. I also drank a jar of Holy Water. Maybe this is when my priestly vocation began.
I knew a little boy who died from rat poison and another who was killed riding a sled.
Responsible parents say “No, No!” countless times to their children, so their children can live to say “Yes, Yes” to a Christ-like life!
Praying for the dead
On All Souls’ Day, we pray for those in Purgatory. In no. 1030 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it says “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 heaven.”
In 2 Maccabees 12:46, it says, “It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins.”
For this reason on All Souls’ Day, Masses are celebrated for the deceased. Also Catholics visit cemeteries and pray for the faithful departed.
Christ the King
The Church year ends with the feast of Christ, the King. This feast was established in 1925, to counter the secularism which led to the horror of World War II.
Cycle A’s Gospel of Matthew 25:31-46, my favorite Gospel of this feast, depicts Jesus, the King of the Universe, coming in glory to judge the nations. We hope and pray that by living a Christ-like life, Christ will invite us to join him in heavenly glory when he comes for judgement.
To summarize, All Saints’ Day invites us to live a Christ-like life and help to bring about the kingdom on earth and get to Heaven.
All Souls’ Day invites us to pray for the Poor Souls in Purgatory, so that they may be loosed from their sins and experience the Beatific Vision.
In Cycle A’s Gospel, Christ the King judges the living and dead at the Second Coming.
May November help to bring us closer to Christ!
Fr. Donald Lange is a pastor emeritus in the Diocese of Madison.