Blessed Be God in His Angels and in His Saints

Dies Irae - Liber

Coming off of the month of the Holy Angels, Mother Church closes our mediation on the deathless angelic spirits by turning our minds to our own mortal nature. November is particularly devoted to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The beautiful chants and prayers traditionally associated with the Mass for the Dead remind us forcefully of the reality of purgatory, and through them plead with the Father that the Holy Souls may soon see His Face. In the far-famed Dies Irae, we give the Church our voice in the liturgy to beg Our Lord’s mercy upon the Holy Souls in Purgatory; but perhaps even more so upon us, who are not assured of our salvation as they are. 

However, being a wise teacher, Holy Church begins with the end in mind. On the very first

Annibale Carraci - Purgatorio

day of November, we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints and honor all the saints of God; particularly those who, though not formally canonized and known to us, are nonetheless our powerful intercessors before the throne of God. Before she turns our hearts to our sinfulness, reminding us of our need for mercy and our duty to pray for our dearly departed, the Church shows us the end of our striving and pleading: eternal beatitude. To embolden us in our month-long vigil of praying for the Holy Souls, we are shown the good to be sought (heaven, sanctity) even before being shown the evil to be avoided (temporary purifying pain in purgatory, or eternal separation from God Our Happiness in hell). It is in understanding the divine love we are called to that we find the strength not to “aim for purgatory”, but rather to strive for heaven. 

Furthermore, she reminds us again of the heavenly helpers we honored in October: in the beautiful hymn In paradisum, the Church asks the angels to bring the Holy Souls into heavenly light, that they may be welcome by the martyrs, and find in the heart of God their eternal rest. Emboldened by the consoling helps of the saints and our Angel Guardians, and especially of Our Lady, Queen of Purgatory, may we run the race of this life with fervor, find our reward in heaven, there to rejoice forever with all the Holy Souls we pray for in this blessed month. 

In Paradisum

Requiem Aeternam
Dona Eis Domine, 
Et Lux Perpetua Luceat Eis.
Requiescant in pace.
Amen.