Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: November 22, 2020
Throughout the Catholic world, November is the “month of the Holy Souls,” dedicated in a special way to remembering those who have “gone before us in the faith.” On All Saints’ Day I blessed their resting places in our three Parish cemeteries, but we all still continue to hold the faithful departed in prayer this month. If the names of your loved ones aren’t yet inscribed in our “Book of Remembrance” in church – a step which enrolls them in our Parish Purgatorial Society – I encourage you to stop by the Mary Chapel in the Cathedral for this.
Also, if you haven’t made a cemetery visit yet this month, I heartily recommend it. Taking a moment to visit the graves especially of deceased family members and friends is a privileged way to pray for them: there is this year a special indulgence available for them if we but take the time to do this and sincerely pray that they be purified of their sins and so enter into glory.
A cemetery visit is also a profound way to “touch base” with our own human mortality as well: I find that the sense of peacefulness and respect for the human remains of our dead found in a cemetery allows us to reflect on the fact that every one of us will die, but do so not in a scary way but rather in a somber yet reassuring way. The graves in a cemetery remind us that the faithful departed have not been forgotten and indeed are “at rest” until they rise with the Lord.
Once we’ve been purged of all of our faults we too shall take our place as saints in God’s eternal kingdom. While we may not be likely to be famous saints, saints we shall be!
And we here in the Americas are slowly but surely adding to the ranks of heaven. At the end of October Father Michael McGivney was beatified. The son of Irish immigrants who grew up during a time of widespread discrimination against Catholics in our country, he was the American parish priest who founded the Knights of Columbus in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1882. Father McGivney died of pneumonia at the young age of 38 while ministering to his parishioners during the pandemic of 1890. The USA claims several male saints in our short history, but none were native-born until three years ago. Remember, our Sts. John Neuman, Junípero Serra, and Damien de Veuster, as well as Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, were all born overseas. But we now have Blessed Stanley Rother, born in Okarche, Oklahoma, and Blessed Solanus Casey, born in Oak Grove, Wisconsin, to go with newly Blessed Michael McGivney, born in Waterbury, Connecticut!
The new liturgical year begins next week, on November 29, the First Sunday of Advent. The Lectionary readings switch to a new cycle (“B”) which means we will generally be hearing the Gospel of Mark proclaimed on Sundays over the next 12 months. St. Mark’s Gospel – the shortest of the four – is generally acknowledged as the first Gospel to be written down. Mark, traditionally known as a disciple of St. Peter, most likely wrote his gospel for Gentile converts living in Rome. St. Mark is the patron saint of Venice, Italy – his symbol is the winged lion, and can be seen throughout Venice, and not only at its beautiful Piazza San Marco and Basilica di San Marco.
It’s possible to read the whole Gospel of Mark in one or two sittings. While he was able to help others to understand the person and message of Jesus by writing, it’s incumbent upon each of us to do lead others to Christ, too, each in our own way. Some may proclaim the Good News by their music, drama, or in poetry; some teach eloquently in speech and many teach even better by good example and charitable generosity; and others depend upon their quiet but constant prayers. Why not resolve to let St. Mark inspire you in your own way of witness this coming year?
Yours in the Christ whom St. Mark wrote about,
Fr. Paul
