Remembrance and Thanks

Lay Director (Each month, one of our Lay Directors will write an article.)

There is much to appreciate during the month of November. For me and for many, it’s a special time of remembrance. We start the month with the Feast of All Saints where we remember the saints whose lives have often given us such simple yet profound ways to follow Christ.

In my mind, I’m seeing the picture I saw recently of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the teenage saint from Italy. It was from Oct. 2020, when his tomb was opened for public veneration prior to his beatification. His body had been clothed in a light jacket, jeans, and tennis shoes, not what I would expect a “saint” to wear, yet so appropriate for him.

Carlos is best known for documenting Eucharistic miracles around the world and cataloguing them onto a website which he created before his death from leukemia. He was noted for his cheerfulness, computer skills, and deep devotion to the Eucharist, which became a core theme of his life. His life is an example I want to follow! (Especially his cheerfulness and deep devotion to the Eucharist.)

What we also celebrate this month is the Feast of All Souls, a wonderful opportunity to remember those who have entered their eternal rest. There’s a hymn that I love, “Saints and Beloved of God”, that has a line that brings me much comfort when remembering those who have passed on: “For the saints of the past and present, for the saints of our family and friends, they have found their home in Christ the Lord, whose kingdom never ends.” What peace and comfort we have in knowing that our loved ones who have gone before us are safely at home in the arms of Our Lord!

Of course, November gives us a holiday to celebrate our thankfulness! As followers of Christ, we are thankful every day for the gift of the Resurrection, the gift of the Eucharist, the gift of our brothers and sisters in Christ who accompany and support us on this earthly journey. How blest we are to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with family, friends, all those whom God has placed in our lives to love and nurture. From 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." We all have much to be thankful for!

Peace, prayers, and blessings to all of you!

De Colores!

John Lyons lyons5876@gmail.com

Kathy Otermat kotermat04@gmail.com