If there is an age whose sole hope
lies in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it is our own. The evils committed by
mankind today can scarcely be exaggerated. To mention just a few, these include
blasphemy, the destruction of the family through abortion, divorce, euthanasia,
widespread pornography, immoral fashions and lifestyles, homosexuality and so
on. As Pope Pius XI once said, the contemporary world is so morally depraved
that at any moment it could be plunged into a deeper spiritual misery than that
reigning in the world when Our Blessed Redeemer was born. In consideration of
so many crimes, the idea of divine vengeance naturally comes to mind. When we
view this sinful world, groaning beneath the weight of a thousand crises and a
thousand afflictions but nevertheless unrepentant; when we consider the
alarming progress of neo-paganism, which is on the verge of conquering
humanity; and when, on the other hand, we consider the lack of resolve,
foresight, and unity among the so-called remnant, we are understandably
terrified at the grim prospects of catastrophes that this generation may be
calling upon itself. The reality is otherwise, for God does not abandon His
creatures. Rather, He continuously assists and supports them with sufficient
grace to aid them in choosing the right path. If they choose to follow a way
other than His, the responsibility is theirs. Behold the grim picture of the
contemporary world: on one hand, an iniquitous and sinful civilization and, on
the other, the Creator holding high the divine scourge. Is there nothing left
for mankind but fire and brimstone? As we face the dawn of the new millennium,
can we hope for a future other than
the scourge foretold by Sacred Scriptures for the final impenitence of the last
days? Were God to act solely according to His justice, there is no doubt what
we should expect. Indeed, could we even have made it as far as this twentieth
century? Nevertheless, since God is not only just but also merciful, the gates
of salvation have not yet been shut against us. A people unrelenting in its
impiety has every reason to expect God’s rigor. However, He Who is infinitely
merciful, does not want the death of this sinful generation but that it “be converted...and
live.” His grace thus insistently pursues all men, inviting them to abandon
their evil ways and return to the fold of the Good Shepherd. If an impenitent
humanity has every reason to fear every catastrophe, a repentant humanity has
every reason to expect every mercy. Indeed, for God’s mercy to be poured on the
contrite sinner, his repentance need not have run its full course. Even while
still in the depths of the pit, if the sinner but sincerely and earnestly turn
to God with a budding repentance in his heart, he will immediately find help,
for God never disregards him. God is charity, so the simple mention of the Most
Holy Name of Jesus evokes love. It is the infinite, limitless love that drove
the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity to become man. It is the love
expressed in the utter humiliation of a God Who comes to us as a poor infant,
born in a cave. It is the love shown in those thirty years of hidden life spent
in the humility of the strictest poverty, in the three grueling years of
evangelization, when the Son of Man traveled highways and country roads,
climbed mountains, crossed valleys, rivers and lakes, visited cities and
villages, walked through deserts and hamlets, spoke to rich and poor,
dispensing love and, for the most part, reaping ingratitude. It is the love
manifested in that supreme moment of the Last Supper when, after generously
washing the feet of His apostles, He instituted the Holy Eucharist. It is the
love of that last kiss bestowed on Judas, of that poignant look at Peter, of
those insults received and born patiently and meekly, of those sufferings
endured until the last drop of blood was shed.
Halloween or All Hallows' Eve is not a liturgical feast on the Catholic
calendar, but the celebration has deep ties to the Liturgical Year. The three
consecutive days — Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day — illustrate the
Communion of Saints. We, the Church Militant (those on earth, striving to get
to heaven) pray for the Church Suffering (those souls in Purgatory) especially
on All Souls Day and the month of November. We rejoice and honor the Church
Triumphant (the saints, canonized and uncanonized) in heaven. We also ask the
Saints' intercession for us. In England, saints or holy people are called "hallowed,"
hence the name "All Hallow's Day." The evening, or "e'en"
before the feast became popularly known as "All Hallows' Eve" or even
shorter, "Hallowe'en." Since it was the night before All Saints Day,
"All Hallows Eve" (now known as Hallowe'en), was the vigil and
required fasting, many recipes and traditions have come down for this evening,
such as pancakes, boxty bread and boxty pancakes, barmbrack (Irish fruit bread
with hidden charms), colcannon (combination of cabbage and boiled potatoes). This
was also known as "Nutcrack Night" in England, where the family
gathered around the hearth to enjoy cider and nuts and apples. Halloween is the
preparation and combination of the two upcoming feasts. Although the demonic
and witchcraft have no place in a Catholic celebration, some macabre can be
incorporated into Halloween. It is good to dwell on our certain death, the Poor
Souls in Purgatory, and the Sacrament of the Sick. And tied in with this theme
is the saints, canonized and non-canonized. What did they do in their lives
that they were able to reach heaven? How can we imitate them? How can we, like
these saints, prepare our souls for death at any moment?
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