TREES DECLARE THEIR OWN SERMON
in brief autumn's painted landscape. We note their size and type and variety and beauty. Trees serve as symbols of the gift-giving aspects of our lives. Trees provide fruit, wood, climatic modification, wind and sun protection, prevention of soil erosion, and a host of other benefits.
· This is the time to plant trees and to prepare them for winter.
Should we not give more attention
to how our lives can bear fruit in Christ and in the protection of our forests?
Overview of October[1]
October
falls during the liturgical season known as Tempus per Annum or Ordinary Time (formerly Time After Pentecost),
which is represented by the liturgical color green. Green is a symbol of hope,
as it is the color of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope
of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious
resurrection. The liturgical color green is worn during the praying of Offices
and celebration of Masses of Ordinary Time.
Autumn
Festivities
October
usually is an enjoyable time of the year in the United States. The autumn
season manifests itself with wonderful fall foliage in many parts of the
country. The temperatures are cooler, inviting people outdoors for nature
walks, apple or pumpkin picking. The celebrations of the Church for the month
of October are also wonderful and unique. The feasts of some of the most
popular saints of the universal Church are celebrated during this month: St.
Therese the Little Flower (France), St. Francis of Assisi (Italy) and St.
Teresa of Avila (Spain). These saints come from different countries, and in
honoring these saints we can include cultural dishes or activities from each
country to make the feast day even more special. Read more about the lives of
these saints. Perhaps the family can pick one virtue that each saint practiced
well and try to implement it.
The feasts in October also
include two of the most popular, time-honored devotions of Catholics, the
devotion to the Holy Rosary (October 7) and the Guardian
Angels
(October 2).
In October 2002 St. John
Paul II wrote the Apostolic Letter Rosarium
Virginis Mariae
(the Rosary of the Virgin Mary)."
This letter introduced
five new mysteries, called the Luminous or Mysteries of Light, which are:
- Jesus'
Baptism in the Jordan
- Jesus'
self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana
- Proclamation
of the Kingdom of God, with the call to conversion
- the
Transfiguration, and
- the
Institution of the Eucharist.
Try to make a more concerted
effort to pray the Rosary together as a family during the month of October,
read the Apostolic Letter to understand the beauty of this devotion more
deeply, and pray the Luminous
mysteries.
Every person has a
guardian angel assigned to them, and October 2 the Church celebrates the role
of these Guardian Angels. We should show devout gratitude to God for placing
these angels at our service. Having a guardian should give us confidence during
all of life's difficulties. Every Catholic should know the Angele Dei (Angel of God) prayer and pray it
often. The Directory
on Popular Piety
suggests that families pray it at morning and evening prayers or after the Angelus.
All
Hallows' Eve or Halloween heralds the month of November with emphasis on the
Communion of Saints, especially the Church Suffering (the Poor Souls in
Purgatory) and the second coming of Christ or parousia. This last day
of October on the secular calendar is second only to Christmas in commercial
preparations. The secular festivities center on ghouls, witches and devils, but
the Christian counterpart focus on the communion of saints. As Christians
living a "Catholic Culture", we should try to explore the Christian
roots of the Halloween festivities.
October:
Respect Life Month[2]
We mark the month of
October as Respect Life Month. Looking back over the last year, there's been a
lot of uncertainty, suffering, and heartache. Between tragedies that occur in the public eye and trials that take
place in our personal lives, there's no shortage of reasons we cry out to God.
At such times, we may feel alone and unequipped to handle the circumstances.
But we have an anchor of hope to cling to. With words that echo through
thousands of years into the corners of our hearts, God says to us, "Do not
fear: I am with you" (Isaiah 41:10). God isn't a detached, distant
observer to our pain; the Eternal Son became man and Himself experienced
immense suffering—for you and for me. His wounds indicate the very essence of
our identity and worth: we are loved by God. There are times we may doubt the
value of our own lives or falter at the thought of welcoming and embracing the
life of another. But reflecting on the healed wounds of the Risen Christ, we
can see that even our most difficult trials can be the place where God
manifests his victory. He makes all things beautiful. He makes all things new.
He is the God of redemption. That's powerful. That's something to hold onto. And
He is always with us. Jesus promised this when he gave the disciples the same mission,
he gives to each of us: Go. As followers of Jesus Christ, we know that our
identity and our mission are two sides of the same coin; like the apostles, we
are called to be missionary disciples. We are not only invited to follow and
take refuge in God, our stronghold, but we are also commissioned to reach out
to one another, especially to the weak and vulnerable. Building a culture of
life isn't something we just do one month of the year, or with one event or
initiative—it's essential to who we are. It happens through our daily actions,
how we treat one another, and how we live our lives.
How do we respond when
our aging parents are in failing health?
Do they know how much
we love them and cherish each day given?
Do we ensure they know
they are never a burden to us?
In our own challenging
times, do we ask for support?
When others offer a
helping hand, do we receive it?
When our friend becomes
pregnant in difficult circumstances, do we show compassion that tangibly
supports her and helps her welcome the life of her new little one?
Sometimes,
we may not be sure exactly what to do, but let's not allow the fear of doing
the wrong thing or saying the wrong thing keep us from living out our
missionary call. We don't need to have everything figured out all at once.
Let's remember the guidance of Our Blessed Mother, the first disciple: "Do
whatever he tells you" (John 2:5). https://www.usccb.org/prolife
Reverence
Life[3]
From
the time we are knit together in our mothers’ wombs until we take our final
breaths, each moment of our lives is a gift from God. While every season of
life brings its own challenges and trials, each season also gives us new
opportunities to grow in our relationship with God. Today the gift of life is
threatened in countless ways. Those who are most vulnerable, rather than
receiving the protection they deserve, are all too often seen as a burden and
as expendable. As new attacks on human life continue to emerge, we can be
tempted to despair, but Christ instead offers us unfailing hope. Hope is not
false optimism or empty positivity. Christian hope is something much more
profound and goes to the very depths of our identity as followers of Christ.
Hope is the virtue “by
which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness,
placing our trust in Christ’s
promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of
the Holy Spirit”
(CCC, 1817).
Like
us, Christ entered the world through the womb of a woman. He willingly
experienced the fullness of human suffering. He breathed his last on the Cross
at Calvary in order that He might save us. Therefore, “God is the foundation of hope: not
any god, but the God who has a human face and who has loved us to the end” (Spe salvi 31).
Christians
know “they
have a future: it is not that they know the details of what awaits them, but
they know in general terms that their life will not end in emptiness” (SS 2).
For
this reason, a woman experiencing a difficult pregnancy can find the strength
to welcome her precious child into the world. A man facing a terminal diagnosis
can see that the end of his earthly life is only the beginning of eternal life
with Christ. The Church teaches us that “the
one who has hope lives differently”
(SS 2).
Christ’s promise of salvation does not
mean that we will be spared from suffering. Rather, the promise of salvation
ensures that even in the darkest moments of our lives, we will be given the
strength to persevere. By virtue of this Christian hope, we can face any
challenge or trial. When the seas of life swell and we are battered by the
waves, hope allows us to remain anchored in the heart of God. May we hold fast
to Christ our hope, from the beginning of life to its very end.
October
Travel and Events
Grand Canyon (Arizona)
Take advantage of
off-season travel to popular landmarks such as the Grand
Canyon. Each October, the 1.2-million-acre
park sees half its summer crowds. Enjoy cooler temperatures (in the 70s), as
well as the deepening colors of aspen, oak and birch trees that adorn this
national treasure.
Acadia National Park
(Maine)
Catch a glimpse of
Maine’s gorgeous fall colors at Acadia National Park this month. Each October,
600,000 visitors enter the park, but with 47,000 acres to explore, you’ll have
plenty of leaf-peeping options. Looking for something closer to home? Check out
our favorite fall foliage
road trips.
September 20-Oct. 5---Oktoberfest
Raise a stein to Oktoberfest. This annual, 16-day celebration of all thing’s beer kicks
off in late September in Munich.
September 26-Oct 19---Texas
State Fair (Dallas)
“Our state fair is a
great state fair.
” How can it not be
when it’s in Texas?
Beginning
LAST Friday in September, the annual Texas State Fair unfolds over 24 days in
Dallas, TX, with plenty of fun for the whole family, including the chance to
ride this Ferris wheel – the largest in North America.
October 11---Ironman World Championship (Kailua-Kona, HI)
See some of the world’s
most elite athletes compete in the big daddy of Ironman events.
More than 2,000 athletes from around the world will set out on a 140.6-mile
triathlon race from Kona, HI. Come as a participant, spectator or volunteer
because this is one competition you won’t soon forget.
Iceman’s Calendar
·
October 1st MASS
First Wednesday
o
Yom
Kippur begins at sundown
·
October 2nd Thu Feast
of the Guardian Angels
·
October 3rd MASS
First Friday
·
October 4th MASS First
Saturday
·
October 5th Seventeenth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
October 6th Mon. Sukkoth
begins at sunset
·
October 7th Tue. Our
Lady of the Rosary
·
October 12th Eighteenth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
October 13th Mon. Columbus
Day no mail
·
October 15th Wed. St.
Teresa of Jesus
·
October 16th Thu. St.
Margarette Mary Alacoque
·
October 18th Sat. Feast
of St. Luke
·
October 19th Ninetieth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
October 26th Twentieth
Sunday after Pentecost
·
October 28th Tue. Feast
of St. Simon and Jude
·
October 31st Fri. All
Hollows Eve
Here’s your Catholic fast-before-feast schedule for October 2025, Richard—refined to honor the rhythm of the Church, with no fasting on Sundays and each fast day paired with a spiritual theme to guide your reflection. October is rich with saints who embody mission, mysticism, and mercy—perfect for deepening your devotional arc.
✨ Feast & Fast Schedule – October 2025
No fasting on Sundays | Spiritual preparation preserved
| Feast Day | Date | Suggested Fast Day(s) | Spiritual Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Thérèse of Lisieux | Oct 1 (Wed) | Sept 30 (Tue) | Simplicity, trust, and spiritual childhood |
| Guardian Angels | Oct 2 (Thu) | Oct 1 (Wed) | Protection, presence, and divine guidance |
| St. Francis of Assisi | Oct 4 (Sat) | Oct 3 (Fri) | Poverty, creation, and radical love |
| Our Lady of the Rosary | Oct 7 (Tue) | Oct 5 (Sat) or Oct 6 (Mon) | Marian devotion, contemplation, and victory |
| St. John XXIII | Oct 11 (Sat) | Oct 10 (Fri) | Renewal, mercy, and pastoral vision |
| St. Teresa of Ávila | Oct 15 (Wed) | Oct 14 (Tue) | Mysticism, prayer, and interior castle |
| St. Ignatius of Antioch | Oct 17 (Fri) | Oct 16 (Thu) | Martyrdom, Eucharist, and apostolic courage |
| St. Luke the Evangelist | Oct 18 (Sat) | Oct 17 (Fri) | Healing, storytelling, and Gospel witness |
| St. Paul of the Cross | Oct 20 (Mon) | Oct 19 (Sat) | Passion, contemplation, and redemptive suffering |
| St. John Paul II | Oct 22 (Wed) | Oct 21 (Tue) | Hope, dignity, and global mission |
| Sts. Simon & Jude | Oct 28 (Tue) | Oct 26 (Sat) or Oct 27 (Mon) | Apostolic zeal, perseverance, and hidden faith |
🌿 Ritual Suggestions for Fast Days
- Tea with Horehound or Wild Ginger: Use these herbs to reflect on healing and clarity (Luke, Teresa of Ávila).
- Candle & Rosary Vigil: Especially powerful before Our Lady of the Rosary and John Paul II.
- Garden Reflection: Sit among your plants and contemplate Francis of Assisi’s love for creation.
- Oil Crafting: Consider blending a devotional oil for St. Thérèse or Teresa of Ávila, infusing it with rose or lavender.
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