As Halloween draws near it is important to remember that this popular secular celebration, which focuses on the dark side of the spiritual world, is actually the counterpart of the Christian feast of All Saints, which falls on November 1. While most know of Halloween, and perhaps a few less remember All Saints, even fewer remember the feast of All Souls which falls on November 2. Sadly, the celebration of this latter feast has slipped among many of the faithful. However, it is an important feast because it reminds us of the reality of God's judgment yet at the same time gives us great hope in God's mercy. While I have discussed this topic before I think that it is important to revisit it at this time.
The Church understands herself to be composed of three parts: the Church Triumphant in heaven, the Church Militant here on earth, and the Church Suffering in purgatory. Catholics believe, as all Christians do, that our salvation is not possible without Christ's saving death on the cross. After that, however, we have our part to play, because of the free will that God gave us, to respond to God's saving grace that we received in Baptism. this response of course is manifest in how we live our lives. The Church Militant here on earth is that part of the Church, while receiving the grace of the Holy Spirit at Baptism, is still left by God to respond to that grace and that response affects our salvation.
The Church Suffering is that part of the Church which has passed from this world and while responding sufficiently to God's grace to be saved, are in a state of purification in purgatory for their earthly sins, so that they may be in the proper condition to spend eternity with the Father. Apart from having scriptural merit for this belief Catholics also see in the doctrine of purgatory the balance of God's justice and mercy. God's justice is present for we each are answerable for how we have lived our lives yet God's mercy is evident in that he does forgive us our sins and gives us the prospect of eternal life. So on the feast of All Souls we pray for those who have gone before us, that God will forgive their sins and bring them to his bosom.
On November 1 we celebrate the Church Triumphant, those Christians, fallen human being like us all, who receive the grace of Baptism and live a life of heroic virtue. The salvation that Christ won for us all and that we entered into with our Baptism was accepted by the saints, by their heroic response to the grace of Baptism. We admire them merely for that. Yet, because the saints are flawed humans like ourselves they are examples the Church holds up to us, the Church Militant, to give us the hope and strength to realize that what God asks of us is not impossible. We too can live a life of heroic virtue, the Christian life, and so enter into eternity with the Father if we but say yes to the grace of our Baptism. We ask the saints to intercede for us with God by their prayers. For if we ask one another here on earth to pray for us what more can the power of prayer of those who are closest to God accomplish for us.
So on November 1, let us, the Church Militant, give due homage to the saints and ask for their intercession to help us live the life that Christ calls us to. Yet we must not forget on November 2 to pray for those poor souls in purgatory which undoubtedly contains many of our deceased loved ones. This is especially important since most of us will, with God's grace, end up among the Church Suffering in purgatory as well.
The weekend Masses at Sacred Heart Catholic Church will be in observance of the feast of All Saints. The Mass for All Souls will be Monday, November 2 at 6:00 p.m.
