Dear Parishioners of Mary Immaculate and Saint Rose,

The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.  They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction.  But they are in peace.  Wisdom 3:1-3

Since November begins with the Feasts of All Saints (Nov. 1st) and All Souls (Nov. 2nd) we particularly remember to pray for those who have died during this month.  We pray for the dead all year, but in November we focus on prayers for them.

During this month we have a Book of Remembrance.  We give special attention to those who have died this past year but we pray for all of our loved ones who have died.  It is a good time for us to be reminded that we should have Masses offered, light candles, visit the cemetery, obtain indulgences on behalf of those who have died, and keep them always in our prayers.

During my life as a priest I have often come across people who would tell me that they did not believe in hell or in purgatory.  I wonder then why Jesus even came.  Because if there is no hell, then there was nothing to save us from.  And if there is no hell, we do not have free will.  Then it all begins to fall apart.  Jesus dies to save us from the fires of hell!  God loves us so much that He gave us free will so we could choose to love Him!

I always find the teaching on purgatory very comforting.  All the souls in purgatory will one day be saints in Heaven.  Purgatory is the time we make restitution for sins when we were not able to finish that while living on Earth.

November is a time also to remember our own death.  We know from the moment we are born that one day we will die.  We, as Christians, should hold the reality of our death before us.  Not in a fearful way, but in a way that helps us to always be ready to welcome the Lord when he comes for us.

As Catholics, we believe in the Communion of Saints.  That is, all people, those in Heaven, those on Earth, and those in purgatory are all very much connected.  We pray with and for each other.  We pray for the salvation of those who are still on the journey to the Heavenly Kingdom and we rejoice in the victory of those who are already there!

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.  The former heaven and the former earth had passed away. . .Behold, I make all things new! (Rev. 21:1,5)

Msgr. Cox