All Saints Day – Sunday 1st November
 
At this time of year nature begins her long sleep of Winter, awaiting its resurrection next Spring. How appropriate this Feast now with its message of detachment from material things before ascending to the riches of an Eternal Spring.

The Epistle lifts the veil, beholding “a great multitude which no man could number” entering Heaven. Oh, the comforting thought that it is a great multitude! This view and foretaste of Heaven calls for work to be done on earth. The Gospel, therefore, sets forth the laws of entrance, the Eight Beatitudes, which make us “blessed,” that is “happy” clearly proving that the Christian Life is not a “giving up” of present things but rather an “exchange” of natural for supernatural things de-signed to merge sooner or later with those blessings of beatific vision and beatific union, eternal, without end.

All Souls Day – Monday 2nd November
 
Each priest is free to say 3 Masses of the Dead today. A stipend may be accepted for only one Mass of the day by priests, and the second and third Masses must be offered for the Poor Souls in Purgatory and Intentions of the Holy Father respectively. All Souls was formerly a Holy Day which was downgraded to a I cl. feast day. Yet, one puts his spiritual welfare in jeopardy by not praying at Mass for those who have gone before that they may be released from the pains of Purgatory, identical in suffering to the pains of hell, though not eternal in duration. The Holy Souls have hope and confidence of entering into the Beatific Vision when they are cleansed of sin. Think of the importance of venial sin to God which makes one impure and unable to go immediately into Heaven. Some Souls will suffer until the end of time. Vespers of the Dead may be said where it is the custom.

is solemnity was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as an effort to slow down the rapid decline of religion and morality in the world, particularly Western Europe and the United States. The Pope analyzed the problems as related to the rejection of Christ as King and centre of our hearts and the rule and guide of the Catholic Religion by the formerly Christian peoples living in those areas.

Following the First World War, Europe and the US suffered a breakdown as nations. Behaviour was non-Christian, atheism flourished. Thus, the feast was established on the last Sunday of October to turn things around. An encyclical accompanied the new feast day which was to be read after Mass on this day: The Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The beautiful Introit (you can listen to it below) takes us into the very realm of Heaven where our King reigns. He is the Lamb that was slain.

The Collect carries forth the sentiment that the Eternal Son is King of the whole world. St. Paul’s powerful Epistle tells us plainly that He is the head of the body of the Church, who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things, He may hold the primacy. He will rule from sea to sea (Gradual), and His Kingdom a kingdom that shall not decay (Alleluia). Jesus Himself told Pilate Thou sayest that I am a King. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world (Gospel).

Our King is immolated on the altar that He may Himself give to all nations the gifts of unity and peace (Secret). The Communion and Postcommunion tell us that our King will bless His people through the Food of immortality which was just received.

The purpose of the liturgy today is well understood by reflection on the weakened condition of the ruler’s son “at the point of death” (Gospel). He represents the condition of modern society worn out by the fever of passion, unable to help itself until faith in God returns. A humble confession of sin is the secret of obtaining God’s “mercy” (Introit) and “pardon” (Prayer).

The Epistle, referring to the dying days of late autumn, bids us “redeem the time” we may have lost in not preparing during the spring and summer of life. Nevertheless, if we but return to God with “all hope” “in due season” He will fill us with “blessing” (Gradual) for our Holy Sacrifice will be healing “medicine” against eternal death (Secret) while the Holy Sacrament will now help us to live as God commands (Postcommunion) .When the centurion received “blessings.” especially of faith, he immediately propagated the faith in his “whole house” of relations and workmen. In this day of religious ignorance, God expects us to be lay apostles out of a sense of gratitude, and to be ready to “speak religion” in and outside the house.
 
Commemoration is made of Propagation of the Faith in the Mass today and St. Luke Evang. Slight bow is made toward the Crucifix when St. Luke is mentioned in the Canon. In the Gospel of St. Luke, we learn about the childhood of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin. The Apostle gave us some of the most precious parables of Our Lord, including the prodigal son and the lost sheep. Plenary Indulgence today for those who visit a church or oratory and pray for conversion of pagans under the usual conditions. One Mass of the Propaganda of the Faith may be celebrated with commemoration of the XX Sunday After Pentecost in places where there is more than one Mass.

Under the symbol of a wedding feast, the Mass in all its parts declares that all men, Jews and Gentiles, are called to share in the peace of God here, and in the fullness of God hereafter. First of all comes the truth that God alone "is the salvation of the people" from their self-begotten misery.

Secondly, comes our response to this call by "inclining our ears to His words" (Introit), which are "to be kept most diligently" (Communion). The banquet hall is the Church militant here, triumphant hereafter. Of those first invited, such as the Jews, some refuse the invitation on mere pretexts, while others maltreat and even slay God's messengers. Finally, comes the call to the Gentiles in home and foreign missions. But to receive Jesus worthily at the altar rail of time or eternity, a wedding garment is necessary (Gospel). St. Paul describes this garment in the Epistle as a putting on of Christ through lively faith and putting off the spirit of anti-Christ both in our soul and in dealings with our neighbour.

Today, commemoration of the Maternity of the BVM is made, honouring the title of Mother of God given by the Council of Ephesus.

Last week, the Welsh Health Minister, Vaughan Gething A.S. announced that with effect from 1800 hours last Thursday (1 October), certain parts of North Wales would be be placed under greater restriction commonly termed as 'the local lockdown'.

The likelihood is that by the time of our planned pilgrimage on Saturday 17th October, the restrictions now in place in the eastern counties of North Wales, including Wrexham County Borough will not have been lifted.

As these restrictions prevent entry and exit from the areas affected (apart for essential work and educational purposes) the holding of the pilgrimage is not possible and whilst we had been hopeful that the restrictions may be a short term measure with an indicated expiration date, this is not the case.

In respect of places of worship, the rules are that only people who reside within the county borough boundary would be able to attend. It should be noted that clergy and musicians reside outside the area.

Therefore, the Wrexham Pilgrimage on Saturday 17th October 2020 is cancelled.

Today is Rosary Sunday. By great privilege of the Missale Romanum of 1962 the Church allows celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Rosary to honour the Mother of God, the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary. Commemoration of the XVIII Sunday After Pentecost is made in the Mass. During the Month of October, the Rosary is recited prior to the Masses. The prayer to S. Joseph (Ad te beate Joseph) is said daily after recitation of the Rosary or at the end of Mass.

Today ask Our Lady to turn back the evils of secularism and evil, of atheism, of at-tacks on the Pope, clergy and faithful as she turned back Sultan Selim II in his final assault on Europe, his great effort to force Islam on West-ern Europe in 1571. St. Pius V rallied the monarchs of Europe in defence of Christian Civilization and Holy Church. Spain, Genoa and Venice sent troops under command of Don Juan of Austria. St. Francis Borgia and the Jesuits, as well as Dominicans, Franciscans, Capuchins and other priests accompanied the soldiers, day and night, be-fore the great battle urging the soldiers to give up all sin in God’s Fleet and Army. The Papal Nuncio blessed the Christian fleet and brought parts of the True Cross to place on each vessel. Prayers of Europe were organized, 24 hours a day, in the churches, as the faithful prayed the Rosary to turn back the Mohammedans. A Rosary and Crucifix was attached to the flagship of the Chris-tian fleet. The Pope’s banner with the image of Christ Crucified rose above the Real, the flagship of Admiral Don Juan. The blue flag of Our Lady of Guadalupe rose alongside the Pope’s banner. After several hours of bloody combat on the sea, the Christian soldiers boarded the flagship of the Turkish Admiral, Ali Pasha, and his head soon decorated a spear. When the Turkish fleet saw dead, they lost heart.
 
Over 200 Turkish vessels were destroyed, 50,000 of the enemy lost their lives and 20,000 Christian captives were freed. As the battle raged, the Pope rose from his seat with several Cardinals, looked over the sky for a few minutes, then returned to give thanks to God for a great victory. The Saintly Pope seemed to have a premonition from Heaven of the outcome of the battle. Pope St. Pius V established the Feast of Our Lady of Victories to be celebrated annually on the 7th of October which Feast Day name was later changed to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. The Feast Day was placed on the First Sunday of October.
 
Had the 4th October not fallen as a Sunday, today would have been the feast of St. Francis of Assisi C., who established the Franciscan Order in 1209, that grew to 5,000 in 10 years, later formed the Poor Clares, while sending missionaries throughout Europe. Not commemorated in the Mass, using the newer rubrics, but pray to S. Francis for many converts to the Church and banishment of evil in our country and society. The proof that prayer and fasting will do more good than complaining is exemplified by the life of St. Francis of Assisi. He entered upon the scene when many churches in Europe were in decay and abandon. Struck by this, he heard the prompting of the Holy Ghost, began the work of restoration, and his followers became the Franciscans. A humble man, who never sought the honour of the priesthood, but remained a deacon, he undertook with almost no resources, the restoration of the Faith. He sought to restore all things in Christ with the help of God alone. Our Lord sent him many laborers for the vineyard. St. Francis was known for his kindness to others, his love for animals, his ability to instill respect and love from others who saw his great concern for their souls. When St. Francis visited a home, if food was offered, he would always accept a small portion, even if he disliked the offering, even if meat was being served on Friday, rather than cause offense and lose the person to the Catholic Faith forever. Although not usually thought of as such, St. Francis was a great missionary in Italy who brought many to the Faith as well as into the Catholic Religion.