ICEMANforChrist

NOVEMBER The Thanksgiving meal is a ritual. Whether we are from rural or urban backgrounds, we know the harvest time passes and the year draws to an end. Giving thanks to God is Eucharist, a heavenly banquet and the foretaste of things to come. We are not worthy receivers of this sacrament without the haunting knowledge of the poor nutrition for many in our country and famine in other countries. How can we respond to homelessness and hunger here in our own land and share our bounty with those who are poor in other countries (lands)? Highlights of November The month of November is dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory , whose feast is celebrated on November 2. The entire month of November falls during the liturgical season known as Ordinary Time and is represented by the liturgical color green. During November, as in all of Ordinary Time (Time After Pentecost), the Liturgy signifies and expresses the regenerated life from the coming of the Holy Spirit, which is to be ...

ALL HOLLOWS EVE Acts, Chapter 6, Verse 5-7 5 The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. 7 The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith . Are you a person acceptable to the whole community, filled with faith and obedient to the church? Then perhaps you should consider being a deacon following these seven. The Deaconate [1] Among those first seven men who were called to serve was St. Stephen the Martyr, whose feast we celebrate on December 26. It’s not surprising then is it that St. Stephen is the Patron Saint of Deacons. So, what’s the significance of the Office of Permanent Diaconate in ...

Acts, Chapter 2, Verse 26-27 26 Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh, too, will dwell in hope , 27 because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. God desires that all men be saved. Christ by the action of His precious blood has sought to redeem all and He desires that none see corruption. Traditionally during the month of November, the church seeks to aid all those who are in purgatory awaiting the grace of God. Council of Trent [6] If anyone says that after the reception of the grace of justification the guilt is so remitted, and the debt of eternal punishment so blotted out to every repentant sinner that no debt of temporal punishment remains to be discharged, either in this world or in Purgatory, before the gates of Heaven can be opened, let him be anathema. Decree Concerning Purgatory. The Council of Trent. Session XXV. December 4, 1563 Since the Catholic Chur...