These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus, “a fragrant aroma,” an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:10-19)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110522.cfm
Captain Kangaroo taught children of my generation the magic words: please and thank you. Saint Paul learned the lesson too. In one sense, his letter to the Philippians is one big “thank you.” The Virgin Mary also invites us to join her hymn of thanksgiving to God: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified Body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. Therefore, stand firm in the Lord, beloved. (Phil 3:17-4:1)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110422.cfm
“Our citizenship is in heaven” . . . a wonderful reminder that so-called Christian Nationalism is a lie. Saint Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) was a church reformer who proved his worth following the Council of Trent (1562-1563). Saint Charles was responsible for the creation of seminaries to train priests and for the founding of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine to teach the faith to children and the laity. Today's picture is of the Cathedral of Milan where Saint Charles was archbishop.
The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Lk 15:1-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110322.cfm
The Lord always welcomed those everyone else rejected. Martin de Porres (1579-1639) was the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman. Martin was of mixed race: his mother was a freed African slave of Native descent. They were abandoned by the father and under Peruvian law, being mulatto, Martin had no rights. He was finally accepted by the Dominicans who gave him menial tasks to perform. He worked in the infirmary and was known as a healer. I remember when he was canonized in 1962. My mom was working at Blessed Martin de Porres Hospital (a Black maternity hospital run by the Sisters of Mercy). After the canonization the hospital was renamed, Saint Martin de Porres. The shiny new “saint” letters stood out on the hospital sign!
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Let them rest from their labors, for their good deeds go with them. (Rev 14:13)
Give rest, O Christ, to thy servants with thy saints, where sorrow and pain are no more; neither sighing, but life everlasting.
Thou only art immortal, the Creator and Maker of man; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and unto earth shall we return; for so thou didst ordain when thou createdst me, saying: 'Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.' All we go down to the dust, and, weeping o'er the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Give rest, O Christ,
to thy servants with thy saints,
where sorrow and pain are no more;
neither sighing, but life everlasting.
(Kontakion for the Departed, Orthodox Liturgy)
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. And may their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
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 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." (Rev 7:9-12)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110122.cfm
Today’s Feast of All Saints and tomorrow’s Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed form two moments of one feast—remembering and celebrating all the faithful ones who have gone before us and handed on the faith to us. Happy Feast Day to them and to all of us! May we follow them walking in the footsteps Jesus.
