2013
(Vatican Radio) Speaking before the recitation of the Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square on Friday, Pope Francis reminded the faithful that the feast of All Saints, celebrated on November 1st, reminds us that the goal of our existence is not death, but Heaven.
The Saints the Pope said are “the friends of God,” and they assure us that his promise does not disappoint.
But the Holy Father also stressed that the Saints are not supermen, nor were they perfect, they were like you and me, he said. They were, the Pope continued people who before reaching the glory of heaven and who lived a normal life, with joys and sorrows , struggles and hopes.
But what changed their lives, added Pope Francis was the knowledge of the love of God , and they spent their lives enduring suffering and adversity without hate and responding to evil with good, spreading joy and peace.
The Holy Father underlined that “to be Saintly is not a privilege of a few, but a vocation for everyone. Therefore, he went on to say “we are all called to walk the path of holiness, and this pathway has a name and a face: it is Jesus Christ.
Following the Angelus prayer the Pope, in particular, prayed for the victims of violence, especially for Christians who have lost their lives because of persecution. He also remembered the many migrants, mostly women and children, who died of dehydration in the Sahara Desert recently, trying to make the crossing from Niger to Algeria in order to make a better life for themselves.
Finally, Pope Francis had greetings for all those who participated in the “Saints Race” on Friday morning, which made its way from the centre of Rome to the finish line at St Peter’s Square. The Holy Father told them that St Paul would say “that the whole life of the Christian is a "race " in order to win the prize of holiness : you runners, he added, give us a good example.
SHARED FROM RADIO VATICANA
The Saints the Pope said are “the friends of God,” and they assure us that his promise does not disappoint.
But the Holy Father also stressed that the Saints are not supermen, nor were they perfect, they were like you and me, he said. They were, the Pope continued people who before reaching the glory of heaven and who lived a normal life, with joys and sorrows , struggles and hopes.
But what changed their lives, added Pope Francis was the knowledge of the love of God , and they spent their lives enduring suffering and adversity without hate and responding to evil with good, spreading joy and peace.
The Holy Father underlined that “to be Saintly is not a privilege of a few, but a vocation for everyone. Therefore, he went on to say “we are all called to walk the path of holiness, and this pathway has a name and a face: it is Jesus Christ.
Following the Angelus prayer the Pope, in particular, prayed for the victims of violence, especially for Christians who have lost their lives because of persecution. He also remembered the many migrants, mostly women and children, who died of dehydration in the Sahara Desert recently, trying to make the crossing from Niger to Algeria in order to make a better life for themselves.
Finally, Pope Francis had greetings for all those who participated in the “Saints Race” on Friday morning, which made its way from the centre of Rome to the finish line at St Peter’s Square. The Holy Father told them that St Paul would say “that the whole life of the Christian is a "race " in order to win the prize of holiness : you runners, he added, give us a good example.
SHARED FROM RADIO VATICANA
POPE FRANCIS CELEBRATES MASS FOR ALL SAINTS DAY
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Friday marking the solemnity of All Saints and afterwards prayed for the migrants who died in the desert or drowned at sea. The Mass was celebrated at the entrance of Rome’s Verano cemetery and took place exactly 20 years after the last papal visit there. In his homily which was spoken entirely off the cuff, Pope Francis said our thoughts on this occasion go to “those who have preceded us and who are now in heaven with the Lord. “ And they are there, he continued, “because they were saved by Christ.” They were not saved merely because of their good works although they did those as well.
The Pope reminded us that “we can only enter the doors of Heaven thanks to the blood of Christ.” It is he who judges us and who opens the door to Heaven. This is our hope, he continued, and if we walk the path of Christ, accompanied by this hope, “He will never let us down.”
Recalling how "the early Christians depicted hope as an anchor," the Pope said this was a beautiful image. “Hope is having our hearts anchored to our loved ones, our ancestors, to where the saints are, where Christ is, where God is.” This, he said, is our hope.
Each of us in these days, the Pope continued, may think “about the end of our lives” and we must “look forward to it with hope and with the joy of being received by the Lord.” We must ask ourselves, "where is my heart anchored" and make sure it is well anchored in that shore.
At the end of the mass, the Pope prayed for the migrants who died in the desert or who drowned in the sea in their attempt to reach Europe.
SHARED FROM RADIO VATICANA
3 DAY WALKING PILGRIMAGE IN HONOR OF CHRIST THE KING IN AUSTRALIA
ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE RELEASE:
Kairos Catholic Journal, Thursday 31 October 2013
Natasha Marsh is a Christus Rex veteran. Her recent completion of the annual pilgrimage from Ballarat to Bendigo brings her tally to 17. Here she reflects on what it is about the experience that draws her back each year.
‘AS the deer longs for the running streams, so my soul longs for you O Lord.' This line, quite apart from belonging to one of the best-loved Psalms and serving as inspiration for one of the greatest pieces of music ever written (Sicut Cervus, Palestrina) has also become a bit of a theme, and an explanation, for the motives of pilgrims who attend the Christus Rex (CRex) pilgrimage.
Read Bishop Peter Elliott's Jesus Christ is Our King homily
Originally conceived as Australia’s answer to the French pilgrimage between the cathedrals of Notre Dame and Chartres, the CRex is a three day hike between the two magnificent cathedrals of the Victorian gold mining towns of Ballarat (St Patrick’s Cathedral) and Bendigo (Sacred Heart Cathedral) in honour of the feast of Christ the King.
Over its 23 years the CRex has developed many traditions. Some of these have not survived, such as the infamous ‘Asparagus Friday’ dinner which was mercifully replaced with other options. However, other traditions of a more spiritually uplifting nature have remained: all-night Adoration, sung Compline in the evening and (my personal favourite) singing Dies Irae in memory of the faithful departed in a quiet country cemetery en route to Bendigo.
Although every CRex brings its own little dramas (such as the ‘cold shower’ crisis of ‘08), in essentials it remains the same. Each day pilgrims attend a beautiful High Mass, accompanied by stunning polyphony and chant from the volunteer pilgrimage choir. The priests that travel on the road offer 24 hour confessions, spiritual direction and wisdom. And, of course, one cannot overestimate those countless moments of support and inspiration that come from one’s fellow pilgrims. It is the man from Perth walking bare foot, ten fresh-faced seminarians singing to Christ their King, the octogenarian with her cane, a mother pushing a double pram or a volunteer handing out oranges that make the CRex a spiritual injection, one that carries you through the rest of the year.
On one particularly hot pilgrimage, when three altar servers were subtly removed from the altar after fainting during the homily, my brother said to me, “Every year I ask myself the same question. Why am I doing this to myself?” But by the third day it is no longer a question. “Of course I’m here! There’s nowhere I’d rather be.” And I know what he means. By putting aside the everyday creature comforts - our precious mobile phones, steaming hot showers and asparagus-free meals - we have an opportunity to encounter Him, who is everything our souls really long for.
Hope to see you on the road at C-Rex 2014!
Photos: (Above) Pilgrims en route to Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo, (Below) Pilgrims gather on the steps of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo, by Patrick Giam.
Melbourne News
Walking for Our King
Kairos Catholic Journal, Thursday 31 October 2013Natasha Marsh is a Christus Rex veteran. Her recent completion of the annual pilgrimage from Ballarat to Bendigo brings her tally to 17. Here she reflects on what it is about the experience that draws her back each year.
‘AS the deer longs for the running streams, so my soul longs for you O Lord.' This line, quite apart from belonging to one of the best-loved Psalms and serving as inspiration for one of the greatest pieces of music ever written (Sicut Cervus, Palestrina) has also become a bit of a theme, and an explanation, for the motives of pilgrims who attend the Christus Rex (CRex) pilgrimage.
Read Bishop Peter Elliott's Jesus Christ is Our King homily
Originally conceived as Australia’s answer to the French pilgrimage between the cathedrals of Notre Dame and Chartres, the CRex is a three day hike between the two magnificent cathedrals of the Victorian gold mining towns of Ballarat (St Patrick’s Cathedral) and Bendigo (Sacred Heart Cathedral) in honour of the feast of Christ the King.
Over its 23 years the CRex has developed many traditions. Some of these have not survived, such as the infamous ‘Asparagus Friday’ dinner which was mercifully replaced with other options. However, other traditions of a more spiritually uplifting nature have remained: all-night Adoration, sung Compline in the evening and (my personal favourite) singing Dies Irae in memory of the faithful departed in a quiet country cemetery en route to Bendigo.
Although every CRex brings its own little dramas (such as the ‘cold shower’ crisis of ‘08), in essentials it remains the same. Each day pilgrims attend a beautiful High Mass, accompanied by stunning polyphony and chant from the volunteer pilgrimage choir. The priests that travel on the road offer 24 hour confessions, spiritual direction and wisdom. And, of course, one cannot overestimate those countless moments of support and inspiration that come from one’s fellow pilgrims. It is the man from Perth walking bare foot, ten fresh-faced seminarians singing to Christ their King, the octogenarian with her cane, a mother pushing a double pram or a volunteer handing out oranges that make the CRex a spiritual injection, one that carries you through the rest of the year.On one particularly hot pilgrimage, when three altar servers were subtly removed from the altar after fainting during the homily, my brother said to me, “Every year I ask myself the same question. Why am I doing this to myself?” But by the third day it is no longer a question. “Of course I’m here! There’s nowhere I’d rather be.” And I know what he means. By putting aside the everyday creature comforts - our precious mobile phones, steaming hot showers and asparagus-free meals - we have an opportunity to encounter Him, who is everything our souls really long for.
Hope to see you on the road at C-Rex 2014!
Photos: (Above) Pilgrims en route to Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo, (Below) Pilgrims gather on the steps of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo, by Patrick Giam.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE
2013
LITANY OF THE SAINTS - OFFICIAL PRAYER OF THE CHURCH - SHARE
| LITANY OF THE SAINTS The Litany of the Saints is one of the oldest prayers of the Church. It was extent in the 3rd century. It is an official prayer that can be recited publicly in the Roman Catholic Church. Today is the feast of all the Saints: Nov. 1. LITANY Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. | Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, graciously hear us. |
| God, the Father of heaven, God the Son, Redeemer of the world, God the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, one God, | have mercy on us. have mercy on us. have mercy on us. have mercy on us. |
| Holy Mary, Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of virgins, St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, All you Holy Angels and Archangels, St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, All you Holy Patriarchs and Prophets, | pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. |
| St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Andrew, St. James, St. John, St. Thomas, St. James, St. Philip, St. Bartholomew, St. Matthew, St. Simon, St. Jude, St. Matthias, St. Barnabas, St. Luke, St. Mark, All you holy Apostles and Evangelists, All you holy Disciples of the Lord, All you holy Innocents, | pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. |
| St. Stephen, St. Lawrence, St. Vincent, Sts. Fabian and Sebastian, Sts. John and Paul, Sts. Cosmos and Damian, All you holy Martyrs, | pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. |
| St. Sylvester, St. Gregory, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Jerome, St. Martin, St. Nicholas, All you holy Bishops and Confessors, All you holy Doctors, | pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. |
| St. Anthony, St. Benedict, St. Bernard, St. Dominic, St. Francis, All you holy Priests and Levites, All you holy Monks and Hermits, | pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. |
| St. Mary Magdalene, St. Agatha, St. Lucy, St. Agnes, St. Cecilia, St. Anastasia, St. Catherine, St. Clare, All you holy Virgins and Widows, All you holy Saints of God, | pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. |
| Lord, be merciful, From all evil, From all sin, From your wrath, From a sudden and unprovided death, From the snares of the devil, From anger, hatred, and all ill-will, From the spirit of uncleanness, From lightning and tempest, From the scourge of earthquake, From plague, famine, and war, From everlasting death, | Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. |
| By the mystery of your holy Incarnation, By your Coming, By your Birth, By your Baptism and holy fasting, By your Cross and Passion, By your Death and Burial, By your holy Resurrection, By your wonderful Ascension, By the coming of the Holy Spirit, On the day of judgment, | Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. Lord, save your people. |
| Be merciful to us sinners, | Lord, hear our prayer. |
| That you will spare us, That you will pardon us, That it may please you to bring us to true penance, Guide and protect your holy Church, Preserve in holy religion the Pope, and all those in holy Orders, Humble the enemies of holy Church, Give peace and unity to the whole Christian people, Bring back to the unity of the Church all those who are straying, and bring all unbelievers to the light of the Gospel, Strengthen and preserve us in your holy service, Raise our minds to desire the things of heaven, Reward all our benefactors with eternal blessings, Deliver our souls from eternal damnation, and the souls of our brethren, relatives, and benefactors, Give and preserve the fruits of the earth, Grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, That it may please You to hear and heed us, Jesus, Son of the Living God, | Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer.Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer. |
| Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, | Spare us, O Lord!Graciously hear us, O Lord! Have mercy on us. |
| Christ, hear us, Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. | Christ, graciously hear us Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.
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| Let us pray. (Collects) Deus, cui proprium est miseréri semper et parcere : súscipe deprecatiónem nostram ; ut nos, et omnes fámulos tuos, quos delictórum catena constringit, miserátio tuæ pietátis clementer absolvat. | O God, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive : receive our humble petitions ; and though we be tied and bound by the chain of our sins, yet let the pitifulness of thy great mercy loose us. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exáudi, quæsumus, Dómine, supplícium preces, et confiténtium tibi parce peccátis : ut páriter nobis indulgéntiam tríbuas benignus et pacem. | We beseech thee, O Lord, mercifully to hear the prayers of thy humble servants, and to forgive the sins of them that confess the same unto thee : that they may obtain of thy loving-kindness pardon and peace. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ineffábilem nobis, Dómine, misericórdiam tuam clementer osténde : ut simul nos et a peccátis ómnibus exuas, et a pœnis, quas pro his meremur, erípias. | O Lord, we pray thee, shew forth upon us thy servants the abundance of thy unspeakable mercy : that we may be delivered from the chain of our sins, and from the punishment which for the same we have most righteously deserved. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deus, qui culpa offenderis, pœniténtia placaris : preces pópuli tui supplicántis propítius réspice ; et flagélla tuæ iracúndiæ, quæ pro peccátis nostris meremur, averte. | O God, who art wroth with them that sin against thee, and sparest them that are penitent : we beseech thee to hear the prayers of thy people that call upon thee ; that we, which have most justly deserved the scourges of thine anger, may by thy great mercy be delivered from the same. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (If the Holy See is vacant, the following Collect is omitted.) | (If the Holy See is vacant, the following Collect is omitted.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Omnípotens sempiterne Deus, miserére famulo tuo Pontifici nostro (Nomen), et dírige eum secúndum tuam cleméntiam in viam salútis ætérnæ : ut, te donante, tibi placita cupiat, et tota virtúte perfíciat. | Almighty and everlasting God, we beseech thee to have compassion upon N., our Pope, and by thy mercy govern him in the way of everlasting life : that, being endued with thy grace, he may ever seek those things that are pleasing unto thee, and with his whole strength perform the same. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deus, a quo sancta desidéria, recta consília et justa sunt ópera : da servis tuis illam, quam mundus dare non potest, pacem ; ut et corda nostra mandátis tuis dedita, et, hóstium subláta formidine, témpora sint, tua protectióne, tranquilla. | O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed : give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give ; that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ure igne Sancti Spíritus renes nostros et cor nostrum, Dómine : ut tibi casto corpore serviamus, et mundo corde placeámus. | Grant, O Lord, we pray thee, that the fire of thy Holy Ghost may in such wise cleanse our reins and our hearts : that we serving thee in pureness both of body and soul may be found an acceptable people in thy sight. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fidélium, Deus, ómnium conditor et redemptor, animábus famulórum famularumque tuárum remissiónem cunctórum tríbue peccatórum : ut indulgéntiam, quam semper optavérunt, piis supplicatiónibus consequántur. | O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all them that believe : grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaidens the remission of all their sins ; that, as they have ever desired thy merciful pardon, so by the supplications of their brethren they may receive the same. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Actiónes nostras, quæsumus, Dómine, aspirándo prævéni et adjuvándo proséquere : ut cuncta nostra orátio et operátio a te semper incipiat et per te cœpta finiátur. | Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help : that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Omnípotens sempiterne Deus, qui vivórum domináris simul et mortuórum, ómniumque miseréris quos tuos fide et ópere futuros esse prænoscis : te supplices exorámus ; ut, pro quibus effúndere preces decrevimus, quosque vel præsens sæculum adhuc in carne retinet vel futúrum jam exutos corpore suscépit, intercedéntibus ómnibus Sanctis tuis, pietátis tuæ cleméntia, ómnium delictórum suórum véniam consequántur. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. | Almighty and everlasting God, who hast dominion both of the quick and the dead, who likewise hast mercy upon all men, whom by reason of their faith and works thou hast foreknown : we commend unto thee all those for whom we now do offer our prayers, whether in this world they still be held in the bonds of the flesh, or being delivered therefrom have passed into that which is to come ; beseeching thee that at the intercession of all thy Saints they may of thy bountiful goodness obtain the remission of all their sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| R. Amen. | R. Amen. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| V. Dóminus vobíscum. | V. The Lord be with you. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| R. Et cum spíritu tuo. | R. And with thy spirit. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| V. Exáudiat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus. | V. May the Almighty and Merciful Lord graciously hear us. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| R. Amen. | R. Amen. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| V. Et fidélium ánimæ † per misericórdiam Dei requiéscant in pace. | V. And may the souls of the faithful departed, † through the mercy of God, rest in peace. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| R. Amen. | R. Amen. |
TODAY'S SAINT: NOV. 1: ALL SAINTS DAY
All Saints Day
Feast: November 1
Information:
Feast Day:
November 1
The church in this great festival honours all the saints reigning together in glory; first, to give thanks to God for the graces and crowns of all his elect: secondly, to excite ourselves to a fervent imitation of their virtues by considering the holy example of so many faithful servants of God of all ages, sexes, and conditions, and by contemplating the inexpressible and eternal bliss which they already enjoy, and to which we are invited: thirdly, to implore the divine mercy through this multitude of powerful intercessors: fourthly, to repair any failures or sloth in not having duly honoured God in his saints on their particular festivals, and to glorify him in the saints which are unknown to us, or for which no particular festivals are appointed. Therefore our fervour on this day ought to be such that it may be a reparation of our sloth in all the other feasts of the year; they being all comprised in this one solemn commemoration, which is an image of that eternal great feast which God himself continually celebrates in heaven with all his saints, whom we humbly join in praising his adorable goodness for all his mercies, particularly for all treasures of grace which he has most munificently heaped upon them. In this and all other festivals of the saints God is the only object of supreme worship, and the whole of that inferior veneration which is paid to the saints is directed to give sovereign honour to God alone, whose gifts their graces are: and our addresses to them are only petitions to holy fellow creatures for the assistance of their prayers to God for us. When, therefore, we honour the saints, in them and through them we honour God, and Christ, true God and true man, the Redeemer and Saviour of mankind, the King of the Saints, and the source of all their sanctity and glory. In his blood they have washed their robes: from him they derive all their purity, whiteness, and lustre. We consider their virtues as copies taken from him, the great Original, as streams from his fountain, or as images of his virtues produced by the effusion of his spirit and grace in them. His divine life is their great exemplar and prototype, and in the characteristical virtues of each saint some of his most eminent virtues are particularly set forth: his hidden life in the solitude of the anchorets; his spotless purity in the virgins; his patience or charity in some; his divine zeal in others; in them all in some degree his plenitude of all virtue and sanctity Nor are the virtues of the saints only transcripts and copies of the life or spirit of Christ; they are also the fruit of his redemption; entirely his gifts and graces. And when we honour the saints we honour and praise him who is the Author of all their good; so that all festivals of saints are instituted to honour God and our Blessed Redeemer.
In all feasts of saints, especially in this solemn festival of All Saints, it ought to be the first part of our devotion to praise and thank God for the infinite goodness he has displayed in favour of his elect. A primary and most indispensable homage we owe to God is that of praise, the first act of love and complacency in God and his adorable perfections. Hence the Psalms, the most perfect and inspired model of devotions, repeat no sentiments so frequently or with so much ardour as those of divine adoration and praise. This is the uninterrupted sweet employment of the blessed in heaven to all eternity; and the contemplation of the divine love and other perfections is a perpetual incentive inflaming them continually afresh in it, so that they cannot cease pouring forth all their affections and exhausting all their powers; and conceive every moment new ardour in this happy function of pure love. So many holy solitaries of both sexes in this life have renounced all commerce and pleasures of the world, to devote themselves wholly to the mixed exercises of praise and love, and of compunction and humble supplication. In these, all servants of God find their spiritual strength, refreshment, advancement, delight, and joy. To aid our weakness and supply our insufficiency in magnifying the infinite Lord of all things, and exalting his glory, we have recourse to the spotless victim, the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, put into our hands for us to offer a holocaust of infinite price, equal to the majesty of the Godhead. We also rejoice in the infinite glory which God possesses in himself, and from himself. Deriving from himself infinite greatness and infinite happiness, he stands not in need of our goods, and can receive no accession from our homages as to internal glory; in which consists his sovereign bliss. But there is an external glory which he receives from the obedience and praise of his creatures, which, though it increase not his happiness, is nevertheless indispensably due to him, and an external homage with which all beings are bound to sound forth his sovereign power and sanctity. Nor do we owe him this only for his own greatness and glory, which he possesses in himself, but also for the goodness, justice, wisdom' and power which he manifests in all his works. Compounds of the divine mercies as we are, we are bound to give to God incessant thanks for all the benefits, both in the order of nature and of grace, which he has gratuitously conferred upon us. We owe him also an acknowledgment of praise and thanksgiving for all his creatures from the beginning, and for all the wonders he has wrought in them or in their behalf. For this the psalmist and the prophets so often rehearse his mighty works, and invite all beings to magnify his holy name for them.
TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : FRI. NOV. 1, 2013
Solemnity of All Saints
Lectionary: 667
Reading 1 RV 7:2-4, 9-14
I, John, saw another angel come up from the East,
holding the seal of the living God.
He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels
who were given power to damage the land and the sea,
“Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees
until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,
one hundred and forty-four thousand marked
from every tribe of the children of Israel.
After this I had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
They cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb.”
All the angels stood around the throne
and around the elders and the four living creatures.
They prostrated themselves before the throne,
worshiped God, and exclaimed:
“Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving,
honor, power, and might
be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,
“Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”
I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.”
He said to me,
“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”
holding the seal of the living God.
He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels
who were given power to damage the land and the sea,
“Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees
until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,
one hundred and forty-four thousand marked
from every tribe of the children of Israel.
After this I had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
They cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb.”
All the angels stood around the throne
and around the elders and the four living creatures.
They prostrated themselves before the throne,
worshiped God, and exclaimed:
“Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving,
honor, power, and might
be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,
“Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”
I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.”
He said to me,
“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”
Responsorial Psalm PS 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Reading 2 1 JN 3:1-3
Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.
Gospel MT 5:1-12A
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.”
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.”
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