Monday, Nov. 1, 31st Week in Ordinary Time
ALL SAINTS DAY
Fra Angelico, Fiesole San Domenico altarpiece, 1423-24, National Gallery of London: From left, Virgin Mary with Apostles and Other Saints, Christ Glorious in the Court of Heaven, Forerunners of Christ.
From left, Raphael, Triumph of Religion, Fresco, 1508-1511, Vatican Apostolic Palace; Jan and Hubert Van Eyck, Ghent altarpiece, 1432; Vassily Kandinsky, All Saints, 1911.
The whole concept of All Saints Day is tied in with the concept of the Communion of Saints. This is the belief that all of God's people, on heaven, earth, and in the state of purification (called Purgatory in the West), are connected in a communion. In other words, Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe that the saints of God are just as alive as you and I, and are constantly interceding on our behalf. Our connection with the saints in heaven is one grounded in a tight-knit communion. The saints are not divine, nor omnipresent or omniscient. However, because of our common communion with and through Jesus Christ, our prayers are joined with the heavenly community of Christians.
The first reference to a general feast celebrating all saints occurs in St Ephrem the Syrian (d. AD 373). St. John Chrysostom (d. AD 407) assigned a day to the feast, the first Sunday after Pentecost, where in the Eastern Churches the feast is celebrated to this day. In the West, this date was probably originally used, and then the feast was moved to May 13th. The current observance (November 1) probably originates from the time of Pope Gregory III (d. AD 741), and was likely first observed in Germany.
No OR today.
THE POPE'S DAY
Angelus today - On the Feast of All Saints, the Pope expresses his sorrow and prayers over the violence against
Catholics in Baghdad last night.
THE HOLY FATHER'S
PRAYER INTENTIONS IN NOVEMBER 2010
General:
That victims of drugs or of other dependence may, thanks to the support of the Christian
community, find in the power of our Saving God strength for a radical life-change.
Missionary:
That the Churches of Latin America may move ahead with the continent-wide mission proposed
by their bishops, making it part of the universal missionary task of the People of God.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 01/11/2010 17:29]