November message - All Saints and All Souls
Bishop Barbarito's first column of November
November — A Month of Hope
The month of November begins this year with our moving the clocks back an hour on its first Sunday, Nov. 2. As we do so, we are reminded, as we gain an extra hour, that time is always moving forward. This is especially significant during this month of the Jubilee Year of Hope when, as it begins, we have more reason to reflect upon time. We are on a pilgrimage in this life of time leading to eternal life, which will be timeless. God created us out of His infinite love and calls us to share in that love both in this life and in the fullness of life, which will not disappoint.
Nov. 1, the Solemnity of All Saints, is a very joyous day in the life of the Church. We celebrate the reality of all the saints who have entered eternal life in the presence of God. The saints are those who now live, without any suffering or pain, in the fullness of joy having attained the ultimate purpose of life on this earth. The saints include all those who have been formally canonized throughout the history of the Church from its very beginning. However, the Solemnity of All Saints not only celebrates those who are formally canonized, but all those who are now in the presence of God in heaven. Many of these are men and women we knew and lived with, such as mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, children, brothers, sisters, family members and friends. The Solemnity of All Saints reminds us that we are all called to be holy and called to be saints. That call begins in this life.
Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day, is also a joyful day in the Church. On this day, we recall the reality of all the souls who have passed from this life who are not yet fully in the presence of God but are traveling to heaven, as they are purified in order to come into the fullness of His life. This purification involves the facing of personal sins that were committed during this life. However, these souls are to become saints, and it is important to realize that even many of the canonized saints faced the reality of sin in their lives, and perhaps the state of purgatory. Saints become saints, not because they are free from sin, but because they face their sins and overcome them by turning their lives over to the mercy of God. It is no exaggeration to state that, next to heaven, purgatory is the happiest place to be. We can never lose hope that those in this life who may have had even the most serious sins cannot be purified through the merciful love of God.
During the month of November, the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of All Souls remind us of the journey that we take together to God’s Kingdom. While that kingdom begins in this world, its fullness is not reached until we are with the Lord in heaven. This is the meaning and purpose of our lives. We look forward to being with God and all those who have gone before us, where every tear and sorrow is wiped away and only the love of God prevails. With this reality before us, we are able to face much in our lives and to face it with freedom, hope and joy. When this vision gets lost, then difficulties and challenges in our lives are very hard to face and can overwhelm us to the point of despair. Hope makes all the difference.
During the past couple of weeks, Pope Leo has been concentrating his Wednesday audiences on the theme of Jesus Christ as our hope. He has especially reflected upon the Resurrection of Christ as our hope. The pope’s reflections are very fitting at the beginning of the month of November, celebrating the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of All Souls, reminding us of the meaning and purpose of life. Without our concentration on the Resurrection, we can lose sight of what gives true joy in life and get weighed down by many of the distractions of life. As Pope Leo stated,
“The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is an event that one never finishes contemplating and meditating on, and the more one explores it, the more one is filled with wonder, drawn in as if by an overwhelming yet fascinating light. It was an explosion of life and joy that changed, the meaning of reality itself, from negative to positive.”
Much is written about the sadness and depression which many people are facing more today than other times. There is a search for meaning in life, and when that meaning is not experienced, a true emptiness enters in. It is only our faith in God and the hope of the Resurrection which cast out the sadness and enables us to deal with the difficulties that the present life may bring. As Pope Leo expressed, “Christ’s Resurrection can heal one of the malaises of our time: sadness. Intrusive and widespread, sadness accompanies the days of many people. It is a feeling of precariousness, at times profound desperation, which invades one’s inner space and seems to prevail over any impetus to joy.” It is the Resurrection of Christ which breaks through the sadness and gives true meaning to life.
As the month of November begins with the celebration of eternal life on the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of All Souls, let us journey through each day with hope in the life which is before us, and in the fullness of life to come. That is the way the saints lived each day of their lives in this world, and that is what will bring us to eternal life when we will be united with all those who have gone before us. As we continue on our journey through this Jubilee Year of Hope, may it help us to banish the sadness that can sometimes enter with the hope of joy which will never disappoint. We are always moving forward through the grace of God!
Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito
