Sunday, November 3, 2024

Greetings in the name of the Lord:

The month of November is a time that the Church calls us to offer additional prayers for all who have died. It is our opportunity to remember loved ones who have died and pray for them. It is also an opportunity to pray for those who have died and have no one to pray for them. It is even an opportunity for us to pray for our enemies who have died. Jesus died for them too. In short we are always to pray for all of the poor souls in Purgatory who are undergoing purification to prepare for the Beatific Vision in the glory of the Heavenly Kingdom.  

The month of November is also a practical time for us to consider our final arrangements. Where do we want our body to rest as we await the resurrection of the dead? Preplanning our final arrangements is a good act to do for our families.

The reality for all of us is summed up in the Latin phrase Memento Mori, Remember your death. Just as we pray for those who have died, we want people praying for us when we die.

Yours in Christ:
Fr. Haft