St Thomas Aquinas has a splendid phrase: “Creatures came into existence when the key of love opened God’s hand”. Our belief in the value and integrity of every human life (without a single exception) stems from the understanding that each person is the fruit of the creative imagination of God – thus life is a personal gift to be cherished, and its wilful termination by any other than natural means is gravely wrong. There is a national consultation taking place at present concerning the law on “assisting suicide”. The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of England & Wales are asking everyone to have their input into this consultation, and you will find copies of a letter from the Hierarchy on the tables at the back of church. Archbishop Nichols, in particular, urges everyone to involve themselves in a debate which goes to the very heart of what being human means.
Our belief in the innate value of each person - because willed into being by God - also involves the understanding that “God made us for himself” - that there is an eternal quality about the human soul. Today’s feast of ALL SAINTS celebrates those many, many souls (known, and unknown, to us) who have completed their pilgrimage through this life and now enjoy love’s reward face to face with God in heaven. “O what their joy and their glory must be, those endless Sabbaths the blessed ones see! Crown for the valiant; to weary ones rest; God shall be all, and in all ever blest” (Peter Abelard). The Creeds teach us that we are part of a single communion and fellowship with those in heaven and we are especially conscious today of the thinness of the veil which divides them from us, a veil which becomes even more transparent when we share in the mystery of the Mass. All Saints Day reminds us that our fundamental vocation is to holiness of life – we are called to be saints, nothing less. May those already in glory, pray for us that we, too, might become “worthy of the promises of Christ”.
But what about those who die without being fully ready for the vision of God, those who have as yet to become the people God created them to be? The one word answer is PURGATORY. Far from being the place of agony envisioned by the medieval mind and epitomised by Dante, the understanding of a state in which we are given the chance of purification and growth should be seen as part of God’s merciful provision - never giving up on us, ever willing to fan into flame the smallest act of co-operation, always another chance. We call November the Month of the Holy Souls which we observe as a special time of prayer for those still waiting to complete their journey home to God. We have a duty to pray for those who have gone before us: we try not to neglect our loved ones in this life and we should certainly try not to neglect them when they need the reassurance of our affection in purgatory. This Monday is ALL SOULS DAY, the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed, to give it is proper title. Masses will be offered at 7.15am & 12.30pm as usual, but the 6pm will be a Solemn Requiem sung to Gregorian chant by our choir. Masses will be offered for the intentions of the Holy Souls throughout November and you are invited to contribute to these Requiems and to enclose the names of those you want commemorated on the November Dead List, either by using the papers and envelopes provided at the back of church, or by writing their names in the book provided.
There was a great celebration in Westminster Cathedral yesterday (Saturday) to mark the recent canonisation of St Jeanne Jugan, the Foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor. The Sisters have a special link to our Diocese as they care for many of our elderly priests (Monsignor Miles among them) in their homes at Vauxhall and Stoke Newington. This weekend we have a second collection to support the SICK & RETIRED PRIESTS (over a hundred of them at present) who have served our Westminster parishes. Please help the Little Sisters and the Archdiocese to look after these priests as they deserve. There are envelopes for your contributions on the table at the back of the church - these can be used to maximise your offering through Gift Aid.
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