From the CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: All Souls' Day:
"The commemoration of all the faithful departed is celebrated by the Church on 2 November, or, if this be a Sunday or a solemnity, on 3 November. The Office of the Dead must be recited by the clergy and all the Masses are to be of Requiem, except one of the current feast, where this is of obligation.
The theological basis for the feast is the doctrine that the souls which, on departing from the body, are not perfectly cleansed from venial sins, or have not fully atoned for past transgressions, are debarred from the Beatific Vision, and that the faithful on earth can help them by prayers, almsdeeds and especially by the sacrifice of the Mass. "
Sunday, November 2, 2003
Saturday, November 1, 2003
Feast of All Saints
A great meditation for this feast from a sermon by Saint Bernard about the feast.
From the Universalis: Office of Readings:
"Why should our praise and glorification, or even the celebration of this feast day mean anything to the saints? What do they care about earthly honours when their heavenly Father honours them by fulfilling the faithful promise of the Son? What does our commendation mean to them? The saints have no need of honour from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning.
Calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company, so desirable in itself. We long to share in the citizenship of heaven, to dwell with the spirits of the blessed, to join the assembly of patriarchs, the ranks of the prophets, the council of apostles, the great host of martyrs, the noble company of confessors and the choir of virgins. In short, we long to be united in happiness with all the saints. But our dispositions change. The Church of all the first followers of Christ awaits us, but we do nothing about it. The saints want us to be with them, and we are indifferent. The souls of the just await us, and we ignore them.
Come, brothers, let us at length spur ourselves on. We must rise again with Christ, we must seek the world which is above and set our mind on the things of heaven. Let us long for those who are longing for us, hasten to those who are waiting for us, and ask those who look for our coming to intercede for us. We should not only want to be with the saints, we should also hope to possess their happiness. While we desire to be in their company, we must also earnestly seek to share in their glory. Do not imagine that there is anything harmful in such an ambition as this; there is no danger in setting our hearts "
From the Universalis: Office of Readings:
"Why should our praise and glorification, or even the celebration of this feast day mean anything to the saints? What do they care about earthly honours when their heavenly Father honours them by fulfilling the faithful promise of the Son? What does our commendation mean to them? The saints have no need of honour from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning.
Calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company, so desirable in itself. We long to share in the citizenship of heaven, to dwell with the spirits of the blessed, to join the assembly of patriarchs, the ranks of the prophets, the council of apostles, the great host of martyrs, the noble company of confessors and the choir of virgins. In short, we long to be united in happiness with all the saints. But our dispositions change. The Church of all the first followers of Christ awaits us, but we do nothing about it. The saints want us to be with them, and we are indifferent. The souls of the just await us, and we ignore them.
Come, brothers, let us at length spur ourselves on. We must rise again with Christ, we must seek the world which is above and set our mind on the things of heaven. Let us long for those who are longing for us, hasten to those who are waiting for us, and ask those who look for our coming to intercede for us. We should not only want to be with the saints, we should also hope to possess their happiness. While we desire to be in their company, we must also earnestly seek to share in their glory. Do not imagine that there is anything harmful in such an ambition as this; there is no danger in setting our hearts "
"I Ask St. Philomena"
This book is a short easy to read book that is a great read! When I first encountered the manuscript, I went to the publisher and told him that this could well be the "Catholic" answer to the Prayer of Jabez. Spirit Daily features the book today (for All Saints) and everyone who reads it ends up recommending it to all of their friends. See what all the talks about:
Friday, October 31, 2003
If Every Day Could be Like Halloween--The Last Christian Feast
Once again we arrive at a very strange day. Little people, some guised in grotesque attire will arrive at our doors this evening and beg for food, if you can call candy that. What is even more strange is that only the most stingy among us will refuse their request.
What if everyday were like Halloween? What if no matter who came to us on any day, wearing whatever guise they chose, was greeted with joy and a generous response of almsgiving? Why we might all be saints!
So this truly is All Saints Eve. It is a lesson for us to learn. We are not frightened by the guises of the little monsters because underneath we know them to be good little children. But how can we translate this act of charity into a life of realizing that Christ comes to us in his many guises throughout the year, begging from us, hoping that we will look beyond the mask He dons at the time?
"When I was hungry you gave me to eat, when I was thirst you gave me to drink, when I was a stranger you welcomed me, when I was naked you clothed me, when I was sick you cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me,"(Matthew 25) "When did we see you Lord?" is the reply of everyone...but for some it is in response to what they did and for others it is for what they did not do.
It is appropriate on the Eve of All Saints (and I do think we should give this celebration its American English translation), that we imitate the Saints in their ability to recognize Christ in our brothers and sisters--no matter how they present themselves to us, in the same way we will imitate the giving of the Father on Christmas Eve by playing St. Nick for our children. It is fitting to face the ghoulish nature of life that is ever heading toward death, on this eve to be faced with skulls and other symbols of death so that we may commemorate our dead on the Feast of All Souls. Indeed in our secular calendar of feasts, this is the last Christian feast which ironically comes under its harshest attack not from the ACLU but from other Christian churches--go figure!
Would that everyday could be All Hallow's Eve...and that for each of us, that everyday will be the eve of our being with God and His Saints in His heavenly kingdom.
What if everyday were like Halloween? What if no matter who came to us on any day, wearing whatever guise they chose, was greeted with joy and a generous response of almsgiving? Why we might all be saints!
So this truly is All Saints Eve. It is a lesson for us to learn. We are not frightened by the guises of the little monsters because underneath we know them to be good little children. But how can we translate this act of charity into a life of realizing that Christ comes to us in his many guises throughout the year, begging from us, hoping that we will look beyond the mask He dons at the time?
"When I was hungry you gave me to eat, when I was thirst you gave me to drink, when I was a stranger you welcomed me, when I was naked you clothed me, when I was sick you cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me,"(Matthew 25) "When did we see you Lord?" is the reply of everyone...but for some it is in response to what they did and for others it is for what they did not do.
It is appropriate on the Eve of All Saints (and I do think we should give this celebration its American English translation), that we imitate the Saints in their ability to recognize Christ in our brothers and sisters--no matter how they present themselves to us, in the same way we will imitate the giving of the Father on Christmas Eve by playing St. Nick for our children. It is fitting to face the ghoulish nature of life that is ever heading toward death, on this eve to be faced with skulls and other symbols of death so that we may commemorate our dead on the Feast of All Souls. Indeed in our secular calendar of feasts, this is the last Christian feast which ironically comes under its harshest attack not from the ACLU but from other Christian churches--go figure!
Would that everyday could be All Hallow's Eve...and that for each of us, that everyday will be the eve of our being with God and His Saints in His heavenly kingdom.
Ron Zook--Love-Hate Relationship
From ESPN.com: College Football
In Gainesville, the affectionate term for the head football coach is The Zooker. Lord knows, there are a multitude of less affectionate terms floating around out there for Ron Zook.
Saturday, Florida can steal a page from Hollywood and Ronald Reagan. It can win one for The Zooker.
The Gators can win one that might -- just might -- transform a mutinous fan base. Beat fourth-ranked, defending SEC champion Georgia in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville, and Florida backers could conceivably go from on The Zooker's back to having his back. They just might let him up and let him breathe.
At least until the next loss to Mississippi.
In Gainesville, the affectionate term for the head football coach is The Zooker. Lord knows, there are a multitude of less affectionate terms floating around out there for Ron Zook.
Saturday, Florida can steal a page from Hollywood and Ronald Reagan. It can win one for The Zooker.
The Gators can win one that might -- just might -- transform a mutinous fan base. Beat fourth-ranked, defending SEC champion Georgia in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville, and Florida backers could conceivably go from on The Zooker's back to having his back. They just might let him up and let him breathe.
At least until the next loss to Mississippi.
Good at Rejection??
Since I've received so many rejection letters in my writing career, I guess I'm pretty good at writing them. I frequently receive letters from people whose manuscripts I've rejected, as I did today, this one from an award winning writer:
I rarely have the opportunity to say this, but...thank you for the wonderful rejection letter!
I rarely have the opportunity to say this, but...thank you for the wonderful rejection letter!
Thursday, October 30, 2003
Wildfire Turns California Resort Into Tinderbox
One of the stranger stories I watched on the news coverage was a story on the CBS news last night where two fire trucks were parked outside of a very large house. There was some implication that whoever owned the house was receiveing preferential treatment. There was never any mention of who the house belonged to though.
From Wildfire Turns California Resort Into Tinderbox (washingtonpost.com):
"Southern California wildfires turned into an 'Apocalypse Now' as a firestorm raced through the mountain resort of Lake Arrowhead destroying an estimated 250 homes in minutes and leaving officials fearing that the fiery rage would not abate on Thursday. "
Fire officials said the only hope they had for preventing a repeat of Wednesday's disaster on Lake Arrowhead was incoming fog that was expected to creep in from the ocean and envelop the mountains by the week's end.
"The good news is that a little too late the weather is changing on us. ... We will still have trouble (on Thursday) in the higher elevations, but by Friday we will get higher humidity ... and this will help the fire suppression effort," said Andrea Tuttle, the head of the state's Forestry Department.
It was Tuttle who said that the San Bernardino Mountains, the winter playground for nearby Los Angeles, could erupt in flames of Biblical proportions because of a huge infestation of minute bark beetles which killed 70 percent of the trees around Lake Arrowhead and surrounding communities.
From Wildfire Turns California Resort Into Tinderbox (washingtonpost.com):
"Southern California wildfires turned into an 'Apocalypse Now' as a firestorm raced through the mountain resort of Lake Arrowhead destroying an estimated 250 homes in minutes and leaving officials fearing that the fiery rage would not abate on Thursday. "
Fire officials said the only hope they had for preventing a repeat of Wednesday's disaster on Lake Arrowhead was incoming fog that was expected to creep in from the ocean and envelop the mountains by the week's end.
"The good news is that a little too late the weather is changing on us. ... We will still have trouble (on Thursday) in the higher elevations, but by Friday we will get higher humidity ... and this will help the fire suppression effort," said Andrea Tuttle, the head of the state's Forestry Department.
It was Tuttle who said that the San Bernardino Mountains, the winter playground for nearby Los Angeles, could erupt in flames of Biblical proportions because of a huge infestation of minute bark beetles which killed 70 percent of the trees around Lake Arrowhead and surrounding communities.
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