THE MEMORIAL OF ST LEO THE GREAT. SUPREME PONTIFF AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.

THE MEMORIAL OF ST LEO THE GREAT. SUPREME PONTIFF AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.

The Boss and the Servant.

THE GOODNEWS:

"Jesus said to the Apostles:

“Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’?

"Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’?

"Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’” (Luke 17: 7 - 10).

Tuesday, 10th November 2026, the Memorial of St Leo the Great, Supreme Pontiff.

Today is the Memorial of a giant of our faith: St Leo the Great. (+ 461). Pope. Italian. Doctor of the Church.

Leo was from a Roman aristocratic family. He was the first of three popes in the history of the Church to be called "the Great."

Pope Benedict XVI said that Leo's papacy "was undoubtedly one of the most important in Church history."

 Leo is remembered in history for many things. Here are the two things that stand out:

#1 Leo put his stamp on the authoritative definition of who Jesus Christ is: Jesus Christ is true God (100%) and true Man (100%).

#2 In 452, Pope Leo confronted Attila the Hun and persuaded the conqueror of the whole of the Italian Peninsula from sacking and torching Rome, the capital of the Roman empire. 

St Leo, Doctor of the Church had his teachings in volume of tomes. Here is a quote from St Leo that I like:

"Recall how you had been wrested from the power of darkness and brought into the kingdom of God" (Col 1:13).

"Through the sacrament of baptism you were made a temple of the Holy Spirit. Do not drive away such a dweller by your wicked actions and subject yourself again to servitude under the devil, because your price is the very blood of Christ, because he will judge you in truth who has redeemed you in mercy." (St Leo the Great). 

St Leo the Great taught decisively that after His Ascension, Jesus Christ ordained that we encounter Him in an imminent manner in the Eucharist and other Sacraments. 

What is the core message of today's Gospel?

Today's Scripture elevates our conception, perception and knowledge of who God is.

In this Parable narrative, the Master is Jesus and the servant is you and me.

Why did God create man? An older Catechism puts it beautifully.

God created man to know Him, to love Him and serve Him.

Why? So that man will enjoy eternity with God.

God is kind and merciful. But He is not your buddy. You must give Him full honors and reverential fear at all times. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.

Trust, obedience, humility and submission to God's will is what belongs to God.

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY.

"Suffering in Purgatory is greater than all suffering on Earth. Such is the doctrine of tradition, supported by theological reasoning. Tradition is expressed by St. Augustine: "That fire will be more painful than anything man can suffer in the present life."  St. Isidore speaks in the same sense. According to these testimonies and others similar to them, the least pain in Purgatory surpasses the greatest sufferings of the present life." (FR. GARRIGOU-LAGRANGE, O.P.

1877 - 1964).

Remember your departed loved ones every day in November. 

For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

THE FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA IN ROME.

THE FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA IN ROME.

THE GOODNEWS:

"Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

"He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there.

He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said,

“Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”

"His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me.

"At this the Jews answered and said to him,

“What sign can you show us for doing this?”

"Jesus answered and said to them,

“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”

"The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?”

"But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.

Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had ­spoken." (John 2: 13 - 22).

Monday 9th November 2026 in the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.

This is the Church of the Pope as the Bishop of Rome.

The Lateran has been known as the "Mother and head of all churches of Rome and the world."

Why is this an important feast?

In the Gospel of today,  Jesus expressed outrage at the way the holy Temple was desecrated.

“Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”

It is therefore appropriate to reflect on the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica the theme of the sanctity of the Place of Abode of God.

Every Catholic Church is consecrated to be holy and equipped with the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament.

Below are a few reasons why today's feast is very important.

#1 The Church is the Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

The destiny of the Church is prophesied in the Entrance Antiphon for today:

"I saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband." (Cf Revelation 21: 2).

#2 The Lateran Basilica is the Church of the Pope, Successor St Peter and Universal  Pastor of the flock of Jesus Christ.

#3 This feast is celebrated worldwide and makes the faithful remember these important truths of our salvation. Especially the truth that the Church is Catholic, that is, universal.

#4 It is God's desire to dwell with us. "Behold God’s dwelling with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people, and God himself with them will be their God."  (Cf Revelation 21: 3 Entrance Antiphon).

The physical church is a symbol of this mystery.

As we celebrate this feast with joy, we remember that we are the chosen and living stones that form  the eternal Temple of the Most Holy God.

Let us pray especially today for the growth of the Church, for the unity of all Christians, for many vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life, missionaries, catechists and evangelists and of course for the Holy Father Pope Leo.

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY.

“One of the holiest works,

one of the best exercises of piety, which we can practice in this world, is to offer sacrifices, alms and prayer

for the dead.” (St John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church).

Remember your loved ones every day in November.

For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

BE ONE OF THE WISE VIRGINS.

THE FIVE WISE AND FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS.

"Jesus told his disciples this parable:

“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

"The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them,

but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.

Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

"At midnight, there was a cry,

‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.

The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

But the wise ones replied,

‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’

"While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.

Then the door was locked.

"Afterwards the other virgins came and said,

‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’

But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”  (Matthew 25: 1 - 13).

Sunday November 8th in the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Our Gospel for this Sunday is the Parable of the Ten Virgins.

Five foolish and five wise.

The bridegroom was delayed in his coming.

Both the wise and the foolish Virgins did not know that the bridegroom would be delayed.

The wise Virgins brought some extra oil for their lamps.

Because the foolish Virgins did not anticipate any delay, they provided no extra oil.

How do you deal with the Delay Factor in your life?

The Second Coming of Jesus has been delayed.

Most likely than not, the fulfillment of God's precious promises to you will be delayed. What do you do?

There are some 106 occurrences of WAIT in the Bible.

The message is uniform: There may be delays. Wait for the Lord.  There is an appointed time for the fulfillment of promises. You must wait for this fullness of time, the appointed time, the proper time.

“For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time. It hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it, Because it will certainly come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2: 3 AMP).

"Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you." (Psalm 27: 14 TLB).

Those who waited for the Lord:

Abraham and Sarah, Jacob, David, Elizabeth and Zachary, Simeon and the Prophetess Anna.

  St Monica waited patiently for God for the conversion of her son, Augustine.

The Lord does not delay as human beings consider delays. (Cf 2 Peter 3:9).

All God's actions are guided by His mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence.

God cannot be even one second late for His appointments. God is always on time.

"In this Sacrament I wait for you. So many emphasize that they must wait for Me, and yet I am already present, close to them, and disposed to reveal to them the secrets of My Heart. They forget that it is I who wait for them to come to Me. How often did I say to My disciples, “Come to Me.” They understood, at least most of them did, the intensity of My longing for the company of souls. I would have all souls come to Me and remain with Me." (IN SINU JESU page 94).

DELAY IS NOT DENIAL. IT MEANS MORE TIME TO PREPARE.

Wait for the Lord!

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY.

Remember your loved ones every day in November.

“The judgment of God is final, but there is a merciful chance to be cleansed of sin by those who die in a state of grace, but have not yet atoned for all the punishment due to sins.” (Blessed Fulton Sheen).

For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

NO MAN CAN SERVE GOD AND MONEY AT THE SAME TIME.

THE PHARISEES LOVED MONEY.

"Jesus said to his disciples:

“I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

"The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones;

and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.

"If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?

If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours?

"No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.

You cannot serve God and mammon.”

"The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him.

And he said to them,

“You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts;

for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16: 9 - 15).

Saturday 7th November 2026, 31st Week in Ordinary Time.

In the Gospel of today, "The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him."

They laughed at Jesus because they were ignorant of Scriptures which said the following things about money."

”Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves

wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 5: 10)

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs,” (1 Timothy 6: 10)

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY.

Remember your loved ones every day in November.

“The judgment of God is final, but there is a merciful chance to be cleansed of sin by those who die in a state of grace, but have not yet atoned for all the punishment due to sins.”  (Blessed Fulton Sheen).

For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

PREPARE A FULL ACCOUNT OF YOUR STEWARDSHIP.

PREPARE A FULL ACCOUNT OF YOUR STEWARDSHIP.

"Jesus said to his disciples,

“A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property.

"He summoned him and said,

‘What is this I hear about you?

Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’

"The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?

I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.

I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’

"He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’

He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’

"Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’

He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’

"And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.” (Luke 16: 1 - 8).

Friday 6th November 2026 in the 31st Week of Ordinary Time.

Our key Scripture for today is from Luke 16: 1 - 8. It deals with the question of rendering account for the stewardship of assets entrusted to us. Jesus is here making an allegory for the Last Judgment.

Every steward knows that once or twice a year, he renders account of his stewardship to his master in terms of profit and loss.

After our death, we will render an account of the stewardship of our gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure to the Eternal and Merciful Judge, Jesus.

At our birth, we received gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure.

We will render account of how we invested this assets.

What are the returns on the investments?

If you show profits, you will hear  "Welcome" and be promoted to eternal life. If you do not report profits, you may hear "Depart from Me..."

This life is short. Even if you live to 100, it is still a short life especially compared to eternity. It is the duty of Religion to remind everyone of this truth. Do not put all your eggs in the one basket of money and material prosperity.

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY.

"The souls in Purgatory repay the prayers that we say for them.”

“When we pray for the souls in Purgatory we will always get something back.” (St Padre Pio).

Remember your loved ones. They need your prayers. 

For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

HONOR THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS ON THE FIRST FRIDAY IN NOVEMBER.

November 6th, 2026. First Friday in November.

Jesus promised 12 special favors to all those who will honor His Sacred Heart especially on the First Friday of every month by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion in Nine Consecutive First Fridays.

In the 11th month of the year, November 2026, we look at Promise #11.

#11. "Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced."

Seven Easy Ways to Promote the Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion and earn the everlasting rewards:

1. Make a list of your family, friends and colleagues and share this Sacred Heart of Jesus Blog with them every month.

2. Get about 100 Sacred Heart of Jesus picture cards or more from your local Catholic Bookstore.  Or from Amazon or any Internet vendor of Catholic books and holy cards. Get the ones with the picture of the Sacred Heart in front and the Promises of the Sacred Heart on the back.

3. Give the Sacred Heart cards to family members, relatives, friends and work mates.

Leave some of the Sacred Heart cards in the Church Narthex or Gathering Area at the back of the Church.

Don't be afraid of rejection.

4. Water your new Sacred Heart of Jesus ministry through daily prayers.

Praying for the success of your ministry is very important and tells Jesus something about who you are: "This person is serious about this ministry. I will try her for a few months to see if she is faithful."

You are already on the way as a promoter of the Sacred Heart devotion.

5. Tell friends and family about the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus any opportunity you have.

6. Remind the Sacred Heart of Jesus often of these promises especially those that touch your present needs.

Jesus loves to be reminded of His promises.  Not that He forgets.  It is important for you to know deeply that the Lord is faithful in all His promises.

7. Friends, this is a question of whether you trust the promises of Jesus or not.

Review the 12 Promises about once a month to see which promises have been fulfilled.

Honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus this Friday by attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion.

For the Sacred Heart of Jesus Promises, Prayers, Prayer intentions, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-promises-of-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html?m=1

ONE SHEEP. ONE COIN. ONE VOTE. THE POWER OF ONE.

ONE SHEEP. ONE COIN. THE POWER OF ONE.

REJOICE WITH ME.

"Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

So he told them this parable:  "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it?

And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.'

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?  And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'

Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15: 1 - 10).

Thursday 5th November 2026, 31st Week in Ordinary Time.

In our key Scripture from the famous Luke's Chapter 15, Jesus exclaims joyfully "Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep." (Luke 15: 9).

Thank You Jesus for the lesson You teach us in this parable.

You teach us the value of the power of One.

Politicians know how important the power of one is in counting votes. One single vote can decide an election.

You have also reminded us Lord of the power of the mustard seed.

Everything starts small.

Help us to follow Your example our, Good Shepherd.

"I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over One Sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

If one sinner who repents and returns to the fold makes Heaven rejoice, imagine the joy in Heaven of ten sinners who repent. There is power in evangelization. Resolve to do your part.

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY.

Remember your loved ones. They need your prayers.

“ SACRED Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come. EUCHARISTIC Heart of Jesus, increase in us faith, hope and charity. HEART of Jesus, burning with love of us, inflame our hearts with love of Thee. O DIVINE Heart of Jesus, convert sinners, save the dying, free the holy souls in Purgatory." (Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus).

For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

THE MEMORIAL OF ST CHARLES BORROWMEO. BISHOP.

THE MEMORIAL OF ST CHARLES BORROWMEO. BISHOP.

COUNT THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP BEFORE YOU COMMIT YOURSELF.

"Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them,

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?

Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say,

‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’

"Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?

But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.

"In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14: 25 - 33).

Wednesday 4th November 2026 in the 31st Week in Ordinary Time is the Memorial of St Charles BORROWMEO. Bishop.

(1538 - 1584).

St Charles Borromeo was Cardinal and Archbishop of the famous See of Milan, the See of St Ambrose. Borromeo was born into wealth and splendor but was not possessed by his wealth and patrimony.

St Charles Borromeo was one of the architects of the successful conclusion of the Council of Trent.

A great reformer, he worked hard for the implementation of the decrees of the Council.

He established seminaries and had catechisms produced.

When you embark on a new project: building a home, a new career, moving to a new city, volunteering for a new ministry, etc.

Rule #1 is sit down and count the cost. This will save you embarrassment and mockery from friends, family and neighbors. "This fellow started something he is unable to complete. He is foolish."

Jesus is speaking to His disciples here. Count the cost of Discipleship before you decide to follow Me.

To make good decisions, we need wisdom.

Wisdom is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Solomon asked for wisdom rather than wealth, health and power.

God answered Solomon:

"Here and now, I give you what you ask for."

God added: And for what you did not ask for, I grant them to you in abundance! (Cf 1 Kings 3: 1 - 15).

The greatest wisdom here on earth is to know the shortcut to peace and prosperity in life. Jesus gives this in the Sermon on the Mount:

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the rest will be given you." (Matthew 6: 33).

People call this the Golden Verse of the Bible.

If you are unwilling to renounce all your possessions and seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, not only will you not enjoy being a disciple of Jesus Christ fully but you will be like the man who started a building he can never complete.

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY.

“If only you knew with what great longing these holy souls yearn for relief from their suffering. Ingratitude has never entered Heaven.” – (St. Margaret Mary).

For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

THE FEAST OF ST MARTIN DE PORRES, OP.

THE FEAST OF ST MARTIN DE PORRES, OP.  DOMINICAN BROTHER.

I WANT MY HOUSE TO BE FULL.

"One of those at table with Jesus said to him,

“Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.”

"He replied to him,

“A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many.

"When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited,

‘Come, everything is now ready.’

"But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.

"The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.’

"And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.’

"And another said, ‘I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.’

"The servant went and reported this to his master.

"Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant,

‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

"The servant reported, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.’

"The master then ordered the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled.

For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner." (Luke 14: 15 - 24).

Tuesday November 3rd 2026 in the 31st Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Martin de Porres, OP. 

Saint Martin de Porres was born in Lima Peru in 1579 to a black mother and a Spanish gentleman.

 He first entered the Dominican Priory in Lima at the age of 11 as a servant.

 Later, he applied to be accepted as a lay brother since he could not apply for the priesthood because of his color. 

He was trained as a barber/pharmacist and soon used his gifts and talents to heal both humans and animals.

 He lived such a life of heroic sanctity that even while he was alive, many miracles were attributed to him. After he died, he was famed as a miracle worker.

The context of today's parable is the enthusiastic statement of a fellow dinner guest with Jesus:

"One of those at table with Jesus said to him,

“Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.”

Dining in the Kingdom of God is the summit of blessings. It is the ultimate aspiration.

The Marriage feast of the Lamb is the mother of all feast.

"Blessed are you who are invited to the Supper of the Lord."

"I want My House to be full." I hear Jesus saying.

Why will anyone in his right mind turn down such an invitation?

The answer is that there is something akin to insanity with regard to pride and sin.

When the Prodigal Son came back to his senses, he wondered why he ever did what he did. Ran away from the gorgeous home of his loving father to live like a scum of the earth for a number of years.

The Church is the seed of the Kingdom of God on earth.

The Eucharist is the Marriage feast of the Lamb on this side of Heaven.

If you have been avoiding the Eucharist, forget your foolish pride and ask the gracious Lord to rescue you from "the highways and hedgerows" before it is too late.

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY.

“I saw my guardian angel, who ordered me to follow him. In a moment I was in a misty place full of fire in which there was a great crowd of suffering souls. They were praying fervently, but to no avail, for themselves; only we can come to their aid. The flames, which were burning them, did not touch me at all. My guardian angel did not leave me for an instant. I asked these souls what their greatest suffering was. They answered me in one voice that their greatest torment was longing for God.” (St. Maria Faustina Kowalski).

For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

ALL THE SOULS IN PURGATORY.

ALL SOULS DAY. 

THE COMMEMORATION OF THE SOULS OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED. 

"Jesus said to the crowds:

“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.

"And this is the will of the one who sent me, 

that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day.

"For this is the will of my Father,

 that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”  (John 6: 37 - 40).

Monday 2nd November 2026 in the 31th Week in Ordinary Time is the Commemoration of all the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

Jesus prays, yearns, cries for the salvation of all men and women.

 The loving mercy of God makes this possible through the providential existence of Purgatory.

 Without Purgatory, only a few people will be saved. 

Without Purgatory, Christian Hope will be very thin.

 When we pray in the Creed: "I believe in life everlasting", we should thank God for Purgatory. 

The Church teaches from the very beginning that:

"All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; 

but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven." (CCC 1030).

Where do people go for the cleansing or purification after they take their last breath and close their eyes in death?

 "The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned." (CCC 1031).

The unbelievers think that the dead are lost and would decay in the ground like organic matters.

 They do not believe that man has a soul. 

But the word of God answers the unbelievers thus:

"They [the dead] seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace." (Wisdom 3: 2 - 3).

PURGATORY: ONLY GOD CAN MEND A BROKEN EGG. 

We celebrate the feast of All Souls because the Church teaches that the souls in Purgatory can benefit from our prayers.

The Book of Wisdom, our first Reading gives us the end game of Divine Providence on the Souls in Purgatory:

"Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself.

As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself." (Wisdom 3: 5 - 6).

"My intercession is everlasting even in the glory of eternity because I chose to keep the wounds in My hands and in My feet and in My side. They constitute an uninterrupted pleading for the sake of all: for those in glory that they may go from light to light and from sweetness to sweetness; for those on earth that they may find in My wounds healing, purity, and holiness; and for the souls in purgatory that by the merits of My holy wounds they may be refreshed and delivered."  (IN SINU JESU, Friday, March 28, 2008).

The month of November is traditionally dedicated in the Catholic Church to honoring the dead and relieving the sufferings of the souls in purgatory.

Do not neglect your loved ones.

Remember the Poor Souls in Purgatory daily in your prayers.

For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html

THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS.

THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS. 

SUNDAY, NOVENA 1st, 2026.

THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS.

NOVEMBER 1.

"I, John, saw another angel come up from the East, holding the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were given power to damage the land and the sea, “Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

"I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked from every tribe of the children of Israel.

"After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue.

They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

They cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.”

"All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures.

They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God, and exclaimed:

“Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanks­giving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

"Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,

“Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”

I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.”

He said to me, “These are the ones who have sur­vived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7: 2 - 4, 9 - 14).

Sunday November 1st is the Solemnity of All Saints.

In the vision from Revelations, the two elders asked John: “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”

These are the Saints whose feast we celebrate today.

The Church venerates in one huge celebration the merits of All the Saints. From Abel the Just to the newest Saint who enters Paradise Now. 

“These are the ones who have sur­vived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”

Saints are now in Heaven enjoying the reward that Jesus Christ promised.

What is Heaven? "Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness." (CCC 1024).

The Saints tell us that our experience of Heaven begins right here and now. 

Our Baptism makes us children of God. If you are in sanctifying grace, you experience the presence of the Blessed Trinity living in you.

What does this mean? You enjoy to the extent of your capacity the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

This is what the Saints in Heaven enjoy all the time.

St Catherine of Siena says that the joy of Heaven begins here and all the way to eternity.

Jesus promises that He is glorified when we honor His saints.

The Communion of Saints is one of the most powerful and comforting doctrines in the Church.

You can have as close friends many of the saints. These friend saints take your petitions to the Prince of Saints who has promised to be favorable to their intercessions on your behalf.

All Saints come from all races, countries, backgrounds and occupations. They give us powerful example and motivation to imitate them.

Become a Saint. Become holy.

The month of November is traditionally dedicated in the Catholic Church to honoring the dead and relieving the sufferings of the souls in purgatory.

Do not neglect your loved ones.

For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html