ALL SAINTS DAY

This Holy Day on November 1 often gets pushed aside because everyone is thinking about Halloween. Today, I'd like to reflect on this.

Many people do not know the true meaning of Halloween. Hallow means Holy and Eve means the day before. So, Halloween means the day before a holy day. All Saints is Holy because it is a day that we remind ourselves of all the faithful departed who the Church has declared cannonized and worthy of our imitation.

In our society today, it seems to be more of a holiday where people put on crazy costumes and try to scare you out of your wits. The images are often evil and demonic. I don't think this is what was intended for this holy day.

Through prayer and Mass, we can take back this day. We can focus on the Saints and their lives. We can prepare ourselves to celebrate their feast. The lives of the saints are interesting and amazing. If you chose one a week to study, you could find that you won't want to stop.

This Halloween, think about what it is really about.

All Holy Men and Women, pray for us.

Praying the Rosary

Wednesday, October 7th is the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary. In her honor, we will discuss the rosary.

This is a very important prayer given to us by the Blessed Virgin herself. It is one of the most powerful prayers. It has even stopped a war. The Battle of Lepanto was in 1571. Christans were fighting the Muslims and they were outnumbered. It was a miracle that the Christians won. This miracle came about because in the Vatican, Pope Pius V had gathered with other Catholics to pray the rosary with him for this battle. This victory occured on Oct. 7th which is now the feast day to remember the Rosary.

Here is more information on the Rosary. http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/rosary/

The prayer consists of 4 groups of mysteries, The Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious. Each of these groups has 5 decades that include an Our Father, 10 Hail Marys and a Glory Be. They are listed below with a virtue that fits that mystery. Also, our family adds a saint as well that reflects that virtue and mystery. Our choices are listed for an example. We also add a priest for each decade since this year is the Year of the Priests.

As you pray it is important to meditate on each mystery. A good way to do this is to use famous art work (http://www.setonhome.org/curriculum/seeinside.php?ToView=P-AR05-11), read scripture passages, or use pro life meditations (http://www.priestsforlife.org/prayers/pfrosary2.htm).

Can you dedicate yourself to praying the rosary daily for the conversion of sinners? This was Mary's request at Fatima.

1st Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation, Virtue: Humility, Saint: Gabriel

2nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation, Virture: Charity towards Neighbor, Saint: Elizabeth

3rd Joyful Mystery: The Nativity, Virture: Spirit of Poverty, Saint: Therese of the Child Jesus

4th Joyful Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple, Virtue: Obedience, Saint: Simeon & Anna

5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding in the Temple, Virtue: Piety, Saint: Joseph

1st Luminous Mystery: Baptism of Jesus, Virtue: Living out your Baptismal promises, Saint: John the Baptist

2nd Luminous Mystery: Wedding at Cana, Virtue: Doing what Jesus tells us, Saint: John Vianney

3rd Luminous Mystery: Preaching of the Kingdom, Virtue: Seeking God's forgivness, Saint: Francis of Asissi

4th Luminous Mystery: Transfiguration, Virtue: Becoming a new person in Christ, Saint: James

5th Luminous Mystery: Eucharist, Virture: Active participation in Mass, Saint: Pius X

1st Sorrowful Mystery: Agony in the Garden, Virtue: True Contrition, Saint: Barbara

2nd Sorrowful Mystery: Scourging at the Pillar, Virtue: Purity, Saint: Stephen

3rd Sorrowful Mystery: Crowning with Thorns, Virtue: Moral Courage, Saint: Rita

4th Sorrowful Mystery: Carrying of the Cross, Virture: Patience, Saint: John of the Cross

5th Sorrowful Mystery: Death on the Cross, Virtue: Final perserverence, Saint: Helena of the True Cross of Jeus

1st Glorious Mystery: Resurrection, Virture: Faith, Saint: Mary Magdalen

2nd Glorious Mystery: Ascension, Virture: Hope, Saint: Mathias

3rd Glorious Mystery: Pentecost, Virture: Love of God, Saint: Peter

4th Glorious Mystery: Assumption of Mary, Virtue: Unity with God, Saint: John the Apostle

5th Glorious Mystery: Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven, Virtue: True Devotion to Mary, Saint: St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Angels

By celebrating two feast days this week, the Church honors the angels. September 29th is the Feast of the Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael and October 2 is the memorial of the Guardian Angels. St. Augustine reminds us in CCC 329 that angels are spirits. They are messangers for God. The Catechism defins angels as, "A spiritual, personal, and immortal creature, with intelligence and free will, who glorifies God without ceasing and who serves God as a messenger of his saving plan."

There are many different types of angels such as, Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.

Before God created Heaven and Earth, he created these beings. He gave them a choice; choose to live with him in eternity and be happy or choose to be their own God by turning away from him. Those who disobeyed God became demons and were cast into Hell. There has been a constant battle going on between angels and demons which affects us as we are in the thick of it. We can help decide the outcome. This battle goes on in our souls. When we make wrong choices, the demons win. Yet, when we make the right choice, the angels are victorious.

Here are some Bible passages that speak on Angels.

Revelation 12:7-12:"Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them. But woe to you, earth and sea, for the Devil has come down to you in great fury, for he knows he has but a short time."

Luke 1:26-38: "In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her."