CHOOSE YOUR COMPANY!

From St Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort (from True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary):

MY dear brothers and sisters, there are two companies that appear before you each day: the followers of Christ and the followers of the world. Our dear Saviour's company is on the right, climbing up the narrow road, made all the narrower by the world's immorality. Our Master leads the way, barefoot, crowned with thorns, covered with blood, and laden with a heavy cross. Those who follow him, though most valiant, are only a handful, either because his quiet voice is not heard amid the tumult of the world, or because people lack the courage to follow him in poverty, sufferings, humiliations and other crosses which his servants must carry all the days of their lives. Do you listen to the voice of Jesus who, burdened with his Cross, calls out to you, "Come after me; anyone who will follow me will not be walking in the dark; be brave; I have conquered the world."

This is the company to which the followers of the Knights of Saint John have been called. Do we all choose it?

St Louis Marie, pray for us

THE FACE OF DEATH

Ivory rosary bead with Morthead and the Holy Face. 16thC. Louvre, Paris

During this month of November, Holy Mother Church invites us to think of Death, to pray for the souls of those who have died, and to prepare for our own inevitable end.

Those with responsibility for the young should not shy away from teaching them these things, which are all too frequently hidden away in our humanist age.  One day we shall be dead in our turn, you too, and yearning in Purgatory for younger souls on earth to pray for us, for you.

Blessed Robert Southwell, a Jesuit, was martyred on 21st February 1595. He penned these lines, upon dwelling on the Image of Death.  We do not have his advantages in the visual arts of our day, so must try harder!

BEFORE my face the picture hangs
That daily should put me in mind
Of these cold names and bitter pangs
That shortly I am like to find;
But yet, alas! full little I
Do think hereon that I must die. 

I often look upon a face,
Most ugly, grisly, bare and thin;
I often view the hollow place
Where eyes and nose had sometime been;
I see the bones across that lie,
Yet little think that I must die. 

My ancestors are turned to clay,
And many of my mates are gone;
My youngers daily drop away,
And can I think to 'scape alone?
No, no, I know that I must die,
And yet my life amend not I. 

If none can 'scape Death's dreadful dart,
If rich and poor his beck obey;
If strong, if wise, if all do smart,
Then I to 'scape shall have no way.
Oh! grant me grace, O God, that I
My life may mend, sith I must die.

Saint Robert Southwell, pray for us at our last hour.

Do NOT forget the indulgence, four days left!

SAVE SUFFERING SOULS SIMPLY! GAIN THE PLENARY INDULGENCE!

The month of November is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Souls, when we pray for the release of the souls in Purgatory, including our parents, family and friends. Also remember those souls for whom noone prays.

Simply put, Purgatory is where those who have died in grace, but who have not fully atoned for the punishments resulting from their sins, go to finish their atonement before entering Heaven. A soul in Purgatory may suffer, but he ultimately has the assurance that he will enter Heaven when his punishment is complete.

As Christians, we don't travel through this world alone. Our salvation is wrapped up with the salvation of others, and charity requires us to come to their aid, as others one day will for us. The same is true of the Holy Souls. In their time in Purgatory, they can pray for us, and we should pray for them that they may be freed from the punishment for their sins and enter into Heaven.

We believe that those Holy Souls for whom we pray will continue to pray for us after they have been released from Purgatory, when they become Saints. So if we, too, should die after confessing our sins, but before atoning fully for them, those souls for whom we have prayed will offer prayers for us while we are in Purgatory. It's a comforting thought, and one that should encourage us more keenly, especially in this month of November, to offer our prayers for the Holy Souls.

The Church's teaching on Purgatory, derived by Scripture, was supported by the Church fathers, including St. Augustine, St. Ambrose and St. Jerome.

Friday 2nd November is the COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED.

During the following week, 2nd to 8th, a Plenary Indulgence applicable to the Holy Souls may be obtained every day by a visit to a cemetery, or prayer for the dead if you are unable to visit, under the usual conditions of Holy Communion, sacramental confession, and prayer for the Holy Father's intentions.  On the 2nd November, the same indulgence applies to prayers for the dead in any church or chapel. The Indulgence may be gained once a day. One confession suffices for all, the other conditions are required for each Indulgence.

Do not miss this opportunity to carry out the greatest act of Charity open to us!