October leaves and November enter the scene…

Hellen Keller who had deafness and blindness, writes, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.” Most of us have very good eyesight. Some of us may use glasses, but still we have pretty good sight. But do we see everything? How many times have we forgotten to recognize the goodness of our Lord? In the first reading from the book of prophet Jeremiah, God is a liberator and healer. In the second reading from the book of Hebrews, Jesus is the true sacrifice for our sins and High priest of the New Testament. In the Gospel, Bartimaeus receives sight. Everyone around him could see, but they couldn’t see that Jesus could heal him. When everyone tried to silence him, Bartimaeus cried out all the more.
 
For the last weekend of Respect Life month, we pray for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. We are invited to love one another and be eyes for those who have no sight. Violence against another person is a failure to treat that person as someone worthy of love. In violence within the sacramental marriage, the abused spouse may question, "How do these violent acts relate to my promise to take my spouse for better or for worse?" The person being assaulted needs to know that acting to end the abuse does not violate the marriage promises. An article from the United State Conferences of Catholic Bishops says, “We focus here on violence against women, since 85 percent of the victims of reported cases of non-lethal domestic violence are women. Women's greatest risk of violence comes from intimate partners—a current or former husband or boyfriend.”
 
Today human trafficking is a new form of slavery. United States Bishop’s Conference says, “Human trafficking violates the sanctity, dignity, and fundamental rights of the human person.” They state that every nation is affected by this disease—the United States is no exception. We all are called to love God and love one another. It is the essence of our discipleship. During the month of October, we were reflecting and praying, especially through the devotion to the Rosary, on the dignity of the human life.
 
All Saints Day and All Souls Day: In the month of November, the Church invites us to pray for our loved ones. We celebrate November 1st as All Saints Day and November 2nd as All Souls’ Day. Sometimes we think that the church means we who are on earth, but the Church has three realms. The church on earth is called the militant church because we are in a battle between good and evil; the souls in purgatory are called the suffering church because they are in a purifying state to fully experience God’s glory; and the saints, who have already entered into heavenly glory, are the victorious or triumphant church.
 
All Saints Day is a feast honoring all Christian saints – known and unknown. On All Souls Day we remember all those who have gone before us. The souls in purgatory need our prayers to help their purification to attain heavenly glory. On November 2nd we will celebrate a special Mass St. Cecilia Cemetery at 11:00 am for All Souls. We will celebrate a Mass of Remembrance on November 13 at 6pm.
 
We ask saints to intercede for us. We pray for our loved ones and those who have gone before us. In every Mass there is time when we pray for our loved ones. Please remember our loved ones during every Mass. The Church also invites us to offer Masses in the names of our loved ones. It costs only $ 10.00, but it take conscious thought and action to do it. Please join us for the All Saints Day and All Souls Day celebration.