November: A Month to Remember
The month of November holds a special place in the Church’s year. As autumn fades and the liturgical year draws to a close, the Church invites us to reflect on the mysteries of death, judgment, and eternal life—truths that are not meant to bring fear, but hope.
We begin November with two great feasts: All Saints Day and All Souls Day. On All Saints Day, we rejoice in the countless men and women who have gone before us and now share in the glory of heaven. They remind us that holiness is possible—that grace can transform ordinary lives into radiant reflections of Christ.
On All Souls Day, we turn our prayers toward those who have died but are still being purified in God’s mercy. The Church calls us to pray for the faithful departed throughout this month, especially through the Mass, the Rosary, and visits to the cemetery. These acts of charity unite heaven, earth, and purgatory in one communion of love.
As we remember our loved ones, November also points us to our own destiny: to live in such a way that we may one day see God face to face. The fading leaves and shortening days remind us that our lives, too, are passing—but for the Christian, every ending opens into a greater beginning.
Let us pray this month that our hearts may be detached from what fades and fixed on what endures. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
In Christ,
Fr. Joe Connelly