Two beautiful celebrations are coming this week.  All Saints Day (Thursday, Nov.1, with Masses at 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. because it is a Holy Day of Obligation), and All Souls Day is Friday, Nov. 2, with the Mass for the Poor Souls at 8:00 a.m. that day.

These two celebrations reflect the teaching of our Church about The Communion of Saints.  In the creed we profess at Sunday Mass is the statement, “I believe in the Communion of Saints”.  Let’s look at each day in a bit.  First, what is meant by the Communion of Saints?  The teaching is simple.  When we speak of the Church, we express three realities regarding Her.  We speak of the Church Militant:  we who live now upon the earth, fighting for and living the True Faith, daily.  We also speak of the Church Triumphant:  those who have died and now live in Heaven with God (All Saints Day).  Finally, we speak of the Church as the Church Suffering:  those who have died, but need a time of purification before going to Heaven (All Souls Day—the Souls in Purgatory).  Everything stated defines what we mean when we say, “I believe in the Communion of Saints”.

At the Mass, when we celebrate All Saints Day, we acknowledge our belief in the Resurrection at the end of the world and the promise of eternal life with God.  It is all about hope and promise that those who die in the State of Grace, having lived obediently before God in this world, are guaranteed a life with God for all eternity.  All Saints (those canonized and already in Heaven) gives a reason to hope—making life worth living for God.

The celebration of All Souls teaches us about Purgatory.  This doctrine of the Church demonstrates God’s tremendous mercy for you and me.  Purgatory, which means to cleanse, is not a second chance.  It is part of the promise stated above.  However, the ripple effects (temporal effects) of our sins that still live on in the world upon a death must be purified.  If you die in a state of grace, but have temporal effects from personal sin still affecting your loved ones or neighbors, then before you can get to Heaven all that must run its course.  Purgatory has great joy in it—we will be in Heaven!  But, there is great sorrow in knowing we fell short, but not so much that we would end up in Hell.

All this to explain the Communion of Saints.  So, get to Mass, celebrate hope, learn of your eternal destiny, and give thanks for God’s love and mercy.  Just remember, He made us free—so, be courageous and freely love Him!  Eternity in Heaven or Hell hangs in the balance.