by Libby DuPont
Now that Halloween is behind us, the world around us will begin to roll out Christmas in full force.
Personally, I prefer to enjoy the full month of fall foliage we still enjoy in northeast Kansas, saving my Christmas decorations so I’m not tired of them by the bleak emptiness of mid-January. But no matter when you decide to roll out the holly, I want to encourage you to not skip the richness of the month of November as it pertains to our Catholic faith.
All Saints. This beautiful feast is a great opportunity to connect the communion of saints with your family’s life. Do your kids know who your confirmation saint was? What saints you are all named after? Are there any particular saints you have a devotion to? Spend one family meal sharing these stories. Don’t feel like you need to be an expert, either . . . you can read a short biography right off your phone!
All Souls. We all have family and friends who have died. Pull out old family photos of important moments in your family’s history and share stories of the people in them who are no longer with us. Google “What Catholics Should Know About Purgatory — Father Mike Schmitz” and together watch this short video as a refresher on what purgatory is. Leave your favorite photos out as a reminder to pray for your loved ones during the month of November.
“Memento Mori.” As the liturgical year draws to a close, we hear more about the fact that we will all one day die. The church doesn’t do this to be creepy, but as a reason for hope and a call to action. First, it can help us bear our crosses more patiently, knowing that this life is not the end. St. Teresa of Avila said that all this life’s sufferings were like one bad night in a bad hotel. This isn’t to minimize our pain, but to recognize that our loving God only allows it in order to bring about proportionate goods.
It’s also healthy to periodically examine our lives in the light of eternity. I often think of a friend of mine, married over 50 years, who had a heart attack a few years ago. As he lay on a gurney in the ER wondering if he’d live or die, he was at peace knowing he’d loved his wife with all his might. If I were to die tonight, what would I regret?
November is the time to repair relationships, make time for those we love and be sure that no important thing goes unsaid —with our loved ones and with God.
Have a blessed and holy November!
