Living Without School: All Souls Day and Other November Things

Friday, November 02, 2007

All Souls Day and Other November Things

Today we pray for the dead.

We went to Mass this evening, followed by Holy Hour. Fr. wore black vestments - a colour reserved for funerals, for the Feast of Holy Souls, for Masses for the Dead....

Why black?

The use of black represents Christian realities. Christians are people of hope ; we are also aware of the reality of sin and of judgement. We do not presume to know the state of another's soul. We know that we have a tendency towards sin and that we do not always resist, nor always repent of our sins. So, we hope and pray.

Black has overtones of mourning , and acknowledges our emotional response to loss , and reminds us of our need to pray for the repose of the deceased's soul. It also is a reminder and symbol of our belief in purgatory, where the suffering souls require our prayers and Masses.

Black represents our mourning and reminds us that there is work to be done -- the work of prayer. The gold or silver which adorns the black vestment gives us that silver-lining of Christian hope .

We had intended to make "Dead Bone Cookies" tonight - almond biscuits in the shape of bones, as an All Souls activity. But ran out of time.We did, however, make Coffee Braid last night, for All Saints Day. According to our cookbook, this braid was often made on the Feast of All Saints in Germany-Hungary-Austria.

Our Braid didn't braid but Gerry and the boys said it was yummy!

We have a centrepiece on the dining table for this month ~ each month I try to have a centrepiece to reflect the liturgical year. We have the above plaque - since we have the Presentation of Our Lady and also the Feast of Christ the King, this month.

And we started on our bulletin board focus for November - pics of Thomas, the birthday boy, and postcards ( as they come in) from our Internet friends and postcard exchange.

4 comments:

Linda said...: I like your BLACK explanation. Also like your monthly centerpiece idea. Where do you find the time to do these things, and blog???; 6:26 am
Leonie said...: lol! Linda - truly, I keep things very simple. I don't make anything big for the centrepiece - often don't make anythng at all, just use something from around the house. And it takes five mins to change the background on the computer to reflect the liturgical year, to turn the page of the saints book each morning...Doing simple things is the only way I have time for anythng! lol!

Even my blog is simple - I don't play around a lot with fonts and templates - no time! :-); 7:22 am
Marianne Elizabeth said...: Thank so much for the black explanation too! Love the monthly centerpiece idea:) Thank you for you're encouragement to be with our teens(over at 4REAL at teenager section.) You always have such wonderful advice.
Blessings,; 10:20 pm
Leonie said...: Hey, thanks for the lovely comments and encouragement! :-); 10:56 pm

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Prayer of Consecration of St. Maximilian Kolbe

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to thee. I, N___, a repentant sinner, cast myself at thy feet humbly imploring thee to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to thyself as thy possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases thee. If it pleases thee, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of thee: "She will crush your head," and, "Thou alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world."

Let me be a fit instrument in thine Immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed Kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever thou enters, one obtains the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through thy hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise thee O Sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thy enemies.

Prayer of St Bonaventure

Pierce, O most Sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, with true, serene, and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for Thee, that it may yearn for Thee and faint for Thy courts, and long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the bread of angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and supersubstantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delight of taste; let my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, upon whom the angels desire to look, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst after Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the richness of the house of God.May it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, attain Thee, meditate upon Thee, speak of Thee, and do all things to the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, and with perseverance unto the end.May Thou alone be ever my hope, my entire assurance, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my sweet savor, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession and my treasure, in whom may my mind and my heart be fixed and firmly rooted immovably henceforth and for ever. Amen.