Hello everyone!
I realized after last weekend’s bulletin was printed that there is one point that needs to be clarified from the recap of the latest finance council meeting. I mentioned that the building and maintenance fund contains around $24,000. However, this number is prior to adding the $10,000 profit from the Beer and Wine Tasting event, so the building and maintenance fund actually has $34,000.
As previously mentioned, we will be restarting our once-per-month Latin Masses at the Payne church. Our next Latin Mass will be at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 13, with confessions beginning at 7:15. Please note once again that this is subject to change depending on how Bishop Thomas chooses to move forward in implementing Pope Francis’ recent document on the Latin Mass.
I would like to offer a reminder that this Monday is All Saints Day. However, because it occurs on a Monday, it is not an obligation to attend Mass on this day this year. That being said, we will still be having Mass at 7:00 P.M. at the Paulding church for anyone who would like to attend.
This Tuesday is All Souls Day. I would like to remind everyone that we will have three Masses that day: 8:00 A.M. in Payne, 12:00 in Paulding, and 7:00 P.M. in Antwerp. Please join me at one of those Masses and throughout that day to pray for those who, as we hear in Eucharistic Prayer I at Mass, “have gone before us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace. Grant them, O Lord, we pray, and all who sleep in Christ, a place of refreshment, light, and peace.”
It is worthwhile here to stress how important it is to pray for the souls in purgatory- not only on All Souls Day, but as a regular part of our daily prayers. As the Catechism states, “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. […] From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead.” Souls who die in the state of grace (i.e. without any unconfessed mortal sin) but have not yet made full reparation for their sins, are purified in purgatory. Our prayers, sufferings, penances, almsgiving, and indulgences can be offered for the remission of the temporal punishment of souls in purgatory; in a word, our prayers and sacrifices truly do have the power to release souls from purgatory into heaven!
A note here on indulgences: Indulgences may be obtained for oneself or for the dead, but they cannot be obtained for another person who is still living. A plenary indulgence (remission of all temporal punishment due to sin) can be obtained once per day, but partial indulgences may be obtained multiple times each day. Also, in order to obtain a plenary indulgence, one must perform the prescribed action, receive Communion, make a sacramental confession, pray for the intentions of the pope, and have no attachment to sin. One confession is sufficient for multiple indulgences, and the stipulation of praying for the pope’s intentions is fully satisfied by praying one Our Father and one Hail Mary. One might be surprised to learn some of the prayers and actions by which one can receive an indulgence. For example, the rosary can be prayed for an indulgence; time with the Blessed Sacrament can also be done with the intention of obtaining an indulgence. Visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead is also an indulgence; however, this particular indulgence can only be applied for the dead. Most days of the year, visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead is a partial indulgence; however, on the days from November 1 to 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence may be obtained for the dead for this same action. Additionally, On All Souls Day, a plenary indulgence may be obtained for the dead by devoutly visiting a Catholic church and reciting an Our Father and the Creed. All of this and more can be found in the Church’s current Manual of Indulgences.
Blessings,
Fr. Ammanniti
