(Usus Antiquior) Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls’ Day (Feria I Classis) – Saturday, 2 November 2024 : Offertory, Secret Prayer of the Priest, Preface of the Dead, Agnus Dei, Communion, Post-Communion Prayer and Dismissal

Liturgical Colour : Black

Offertory

Tradition of the Faith

Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de poenis inferni et de profundo lacu : libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum : sed signifer sanctus Michael repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam : Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semine ejus.

Priest : Hostias et preces Tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus : Tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus : fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam. Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini ejus.

English translation

O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, deliver the souls of all the faithful departed from the pains of hell and from the deep pit; deliver them from the lion’s mouth, that hell does not engulf them, nor will they fall into darkness, but let Michael, the holy standard bearer, bring them into the holy light which You once had promised to Abraham and his seed.

Priest : We offer You, o Lord, sacrifices and prayers of praise, may You accept them for those souls whom we on this day commemorate, grant them, o Lord, to pass from death to the life which You once had promised to Abraham and his seed.

Secret Prayer of the Priest


Secret for the First Mass

Hostias, quaesumus, Domine, quas Tibi pro animabus famulorum famularumque Tuarum offerimus, propitiatus intende : ut, quibus fidei christianae meritum contulisti, dones et praemium. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Mercifully look down, we beseech You, o Lord, upon the sacrifice which we offer You for the souls of Your servants and handmaids, that, to those on whom You had conferred the merit of Christian faith, You may also grant its reward. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Secret for the Second Mass

Propitiare, Domine, supplicationibus nostris, pro animabus famulorum famularumque Tuarum, pro quibus Tibi offerimus sacrificium laudis; ut eas Sanctorum Tuorum consortio sociare digneris. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Be propitiated, o Lord, by our supplications for the souls of Your servants and handmaids, whose anniversary is kept today, for whom we offer You the sacrifice of praise, that You vouchsafe to join them to the company of Your saints. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Secret for the Third Mass

Deus, cujus misericordiae non est numerus, suscipe propitius preces humilitatis nostrae : et animabus fratrum, propinquorum et benefactorum nostrorum, quibus Tui Nominis dedisti confessionem, per haec sacramenta salutis nostrae, cunctorum remissione tribue peccatorum. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

O God, Whose mercy is boundless, mercifully receive the prayers of our lowliness, and grant, through these sacraments of our salvation, to the souls of our brethren, kindred and benefactors, to whom You had granted the confession of Your Name, the remission of all sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Preface of the Dead

Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos Tibi semper et ubique gratias agere : Domine, Sancte Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus : per Christum, Dominum nostrum. In quo nobis spes beatae resurrectionis effulsit, ut, quos contristat certa moriendi condicio, eosdem consoletur futurae immortalitatis promissio. Tuis enim fidelibus, Domine, vita mutatur, non tollitur : et, dissoluta terrestris hujus incolatus domo, aeterna in caelis habitatio comparatur.

Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus cumque omni militia caelestis exercitus hymnum gloriae Tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes :

English translation

It is truly meet and just, right and profitable for us, at all times, and in all places, to give thanks to You, o holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, through Christ, our Lord, in Whom the hope of a happy resurrection has shone on us, so that those whom the certain fate of dying renders sad, may be consoled by the promise of future immortality. For with regard to Your faithful, o Lord, life is changed, not taken away, and the house of their earthly dwelling being destroyed, an eternal dwelling in heaven is obtained.

So with the Angels and Archangels, with the Dominions and Powers, with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing of Your glory without end, saying :

Agnus Dei

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem sempiternam.

English translation

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, give unto them rest.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, give unto them rest.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, give unto them rest forevermore.

Communion

4 Esdras 2 : 35, 34

Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine : Cum Sanctis Tuis in aeternum : quia pius es.

Priest : Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine : et lux perpetua luceat eis. Cum Sanctis Tuis in aeternum : quia pius es.

English translation

May eternal light shine upon them, o Lord, with Your saints forever, for You are kind.

Priest : Grant them eternal rest, o Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, with Your saints forever, for You are kind.

Post-Communion Prayer

Post-Communion Prayer for the First Mass

Animabus, quaesumus, Domine, famulorum famularumque Tuarum oratio proficiat supplicantium : ut eas et a peccatis omnibus exuas, et Tuae redemptionis facias esse participes : Qui vivis et regnas in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

May the prayer of Your suppliants profit the souls of Your servants and handmaids, we beseech You, o Lord, that You may free them from all sins and make them sharers in Your redemption. Who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Post-Communion Prayer for the Second Mass

Praesta, quaesumus, Domine : ut animae famulorum famularumque Tuarum, his purgatae sacrificiis, indulgentiam pariter et requiem capiant sempiternam. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Grant, we beseech You, o Lord, that the souls of Your servants and handmaids, the anniversary of whose burial we commemorate, may be purged by this sacrifice and obtain alike forgiveness and everlasting rest. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Post-Communion Prayer for the Third Mass

Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens et misericors Deus : ut animae fratrum, propinquorum et benefactorum nostrorum, pro quibus hoc sacrificium laudis Tuae obtulimus majestati; per hujus virtutem sacramenti a peccatis omnibus expiatae, lucis perpetuae, Te miserante, recipiant beatitudinem. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Grant, we beseech You, o Almighty and merciful God, that the souls of our brethren, kindred and benefactors, for Whom we have offered this sacrifice of praise to Your majesty, being purified of all sins by the virtue of this sacrament, may, by Your mercy receive the beatitude of perpetual light. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Dismissal of the Mass

Priest : Requiescant in pace.

Response : Amen.

English translation

Priest : May they rest in peace.

Response : Amen.

(Usus Antiquior) Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls’ Day (Feria I Classis) – Saturday, 2 November 2024 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : Black

Gospel for the First Mass

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. John

John 5 : 25-29

In illo tempore : Dixit Jesus turbis Judaeorum : Amen, Amen, dico vobis, quia venit hora, et nunc est, quando mortui audient vocem Filii Dei : et qui audierint, vivent. Sicut enim Pater habet vitam in semetipso, sic dedit et Filio habere vitam in semetipso : et potestatem dedit ei judicium facere, quia Filius Hominis est.

Nolite mirari hoc, quia venit hora, in qua omnes, qui in monumentis sunt, audient vocem Filii Dei : et procedent, qui bona fecerunt, in resurrectionem vitae : qui vero mala egerunt, in resurrectionem judicii.

English translation

At that time, Jesus said to the multitude of the Jews, “Amen, Amen, I say unto you, that the hour comes, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has given to the Son also to have life in Himself, and He has given Him power to do judgment, because He is the Son of Man.”

“Wonder not at this, for the hour comes wherein all those who are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who have done good things shall come forth unto the resurrection of life, but those who have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.”

Gospel for the Second Mass

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. John

John 6 : 37-40

In illo tempore : Dixit Jesus turbis Judaeorum : Omne, quod dat mihi Pater, ad me veniet : et eum, qui venit ad me, non ejiciam foras : quia descendi de caelo, non ut faciam voluntatem meam, sed voluntatem ejus, qui misit me.

Haec est autem voluntas ejus, qui misit me, Patris : ut omne, quod dedit mihi, non perdam ex eo, sed resuscitem illud in novissimo die. Haec est autem voluntas Patris mei, qui misit me : ut omnis, qui videt Filium et credit in eum, habeat vitam aeternam, et ego resuscitabo eum in novissimo die.

English translation

At that time, Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews, “All that the Father gave Me shall come to Me, and he who comes to Me I will not cast out, because I came down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me.”

“Now this is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all those whom He had given Me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again in the last day, and this is the will of My Father Who sent Me, that every one who sees the Son, and believes in Him, may have life everlasting, and I will raise him up in the last day.”

Gospel for the Third Mass

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. John

John 6 : 51-55

In illo tempore : Dixit Jesus turbis Judaeorum : Ego sum panis vivus, qui de caelo descendi. Si quis manducaverit ex hoc pane, vivet in aeternum : et panis, quem ego dabo, caro mea est pro mundi vita.

Litigabant ergo Judaei ad invicem, dicentes : Quomodo potest hic nobis carnem suam dare ad manducandum? Dixit ergo eis Jesus : Amen, Amen, dico vobis : nisi manducaveritis carnem Filii Hominis et biberitis Ejus Sanguinem, non habebitis vitam in vobis.

Qui manducat Meam carnem et bibit Meum sanguinem, habet vitam aeternam : et ego resuscitabo eum in novissimo die.

English translation

At that time, Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews, “I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven. If any man eats of this bread he shall live forever, and the bread that I will give is My flesh for the life of the world.”

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Then Jesus said to them, “Amen, Amen, I say unto you, except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you shall not have life in you.”

“He who eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, you shall not have life in you. He who eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, has everlasting life. And I will raise him up in the last day.”

(Usus Antiquior) Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls’ Day (Feria I Classis) – Saturday, 2 November 2024 : Gradual and Tract

Liturgical Colour : Black

Gradual

4 Esdras 2 : 34, 35 and Psalm 111 : 7

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine : et lux perpetua luceat eis.

In memoria aeterna erit justus : ab auditione mala non timebit.

English translation

Eternal rest grant unto them, o Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

The just shall be in everlasting remembrance, he shall not fear the evil hearing.

Tract

Tradition of the Faith

Absolve, Domine, animas omnium fidelium defunctorum ab omni vinculo delictorum.

Response : Et gratia Tua illis succurrente, mereantur evadere judicium ultionis.

Response : Et lucis aeternae beatitudine perfrui.

English translation

O Lord, absolve the souls of all the faithful departed from every bond of sin.

Response : And by the help of Your grace may they be worthy to escape the sentence of vengeance.

Response : And to enjoy all the beatitude of the light eternal.

(Usus Antiquior) Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls’ Day (Feria I Classis) – Saturday, 2 November 2024 : Sequence

Liturgical Colour : Black

Dies Irae

Dies Irae, Dies Illa, Solvet saeclum in favilla. Teste David cum Sibylla.

Quantus Tremor est Futurus, Quando judex est venturus, Cuncta stricte discussurus!

Tuba Mirum Spargens Sonum Per sepulcra regionum, Coget omnes ante thronum.

Mors Stupebit et Natura, Cum resurget creatura, Judicanti responsura.

Liber Scriptus Proferetur, In quo totum continetur, Unde mundus judicetur.

Judex Ergo Cum Sedebit, Quidquid latet, apparebit : Nil inultum remanebit.

Quid Sum Miser Tunc Dicturus? Quem patronum rogaturus, Cum vix justus sit securus?

Rex Tremendae Majestatis, Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Salva me, fons pietatis.

Recordare, Jesu Pie, Quod sum causa Tuae viae : Ne me perdas illa die.

Quaerens Me, Sedisti Lassus : Redemisti Crucem passus : Tantus labor non sit cassus.

Juste Judex Ultionis, Domum fac remissionis Ante diem rationis.

Ingemisco, Tamquam Reus : Culpa rubet vultus meus : Supplicanti parce, Deus.

Qui Mariam Absolvisti, Et latronem exaudisti, Mihi quoque spem dedisti.

Preces Meae Non Sunt Dignae : Sed Tu bonus fac benigne, Ne perenni cremer igne.

Inter Oves Locum Praesta, Et ab haedis me sequestra, Statuens in parte dextra.

Confutatis Maledictis, Flammis actibus addictis : Voca me cum benedictis.

Oro Supplex et Acclinis, Cor contritum quasi cinis : Gere curam mei finis.

Lacrimosa Dies Illa, Qua resurget ex favilla Judicandus homo reus : Huic ergo parce, Deus.

Pie Jesu Domine, Dona eis requiem. Amen.

English translation

The day of wrath, that awful day shall reduce the world to ashes, as David and the Sibyl prophesied.

How great shall be the trembling, when the Judge shall come to examine all things rigorously.

The trumpet, with astounding blast, echoing over the sepulchres of the whole world, shall summon all before the throne.

Death and Nature will stand aghast, when the creature shall rise again, to answer before his Judge.

The written book shall be brought forth, containing all for which the world must be judged.

When, therefore, the Judge shall be seated, whatsoever is hidden shall be brought to light, nothing shall remain unpunished.

What shall I, wretched, then say? Whom shall I invoke as protector, when even the just shall hardly be secure?

O King of awful majesty, Who of Your free gift had saved those who are to be saved, save me, o Fount of mercy.

Remember, o loving Jesus, that for my sake You had come upon the earth, let me not, then, be lost on that day.

In search of me, You sat down, weary, suffering the Cross, You had redeemed me, let not so great a labour be in vain.

O righteous Awarder of punishment, grant me the gift of pardon before the day of accounting.

I groan as one guilty, while I blush for my sins. Oh! Spare Your suppliant, my God!

You who had absolved Mary, and had hearkened to the thief, to me also You have given hope.

My prayers deserve not to be heard, but You are good, grant, in Your kindness, that I may not burn in the unquenchable fire.

Amid Your sheep appoint me a place, and separate me from the goats, placing me at Your right hand.

The accursed having been silenced and given over to the bitter flames, call me with the blessed.

Kneeling and prostrate I pray, with a heart contrite as though crushed to ashes. Oh! Have a care of my last hour.

A mournful day that day shall be, when from the glowing embers shall arise, guilty man, that he may be judged. Spare him, then, o God!

Merciful Jesus, Lord, grant them rest. Amen.

(Usus Antiquior) Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls’ Day (Feria I Classis) – Saturday, 2 November 2024 : Epistle

Liturgical Colour : Black

Epistle for the First Mass

Lectio Epistolae Beati Pauli Apostoli ad Corinthios – Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15 : 51-57

Fratres : Ecce, mysterium vobis dico : Omnes quidem resurgemus, sed non omnes immutabimur. In momento, in ictu oculi, in novissima tuba : canet enim tuba, et mortui resurgent incorrupti : et nos immutabimur.

Oportet enim corruptibile hoc induere incorruptionem : et mortale hoc induere immortalitatem. Cum autem mortale hoc induerit immortalitatem, tunc fiet sermo, qui scriptus est : Absorpta est mors in victoria. Ubi est, mors, victoria tua? Ubi est, mors, stimulus tuus?

Stimulus autem mortis peccatum est : virtus vero peccati lex. Deo autem gratias, qui dedit nobis victoriam per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum.

English translation

Brethren, behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall all indeed rise again, but we shall not all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall rise again incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. And when this mortal had put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is the sting?’

Now the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God, He Who had given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Epistle for the Second Mass

Lectio Libri Machabaeorum – Lesson from the Book of Maccabees

2 Maccabees 12 : 43-46

In diebus illis : Vir fortissimus Judas, facta collatione, duodecim milia drachmas argenti misit Jerosolymam, offerri pro peccatis mortuorum sacrificium, bene et religiose de resurrectione cogitans (nisi enim eos, qui ceciderant, resurrecturos speraret, superfluum videretur et vanum orare pro mortuis) : et quia considerabat, quod hi, qui cum pietate dormitionem acceperant, optimam haberent repositam gratiam. Sancta ergo et salubris est cogitatio pro defunctis exorare, ut a peccatis solvantur.

English translation

In those days, the most valiant man Judas, making a gathering, sent twelve thousand drachmas of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection (for if he had not hoped that those who were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead), and because he considered that those who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them, it is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.

Epistle for the Third Mass

Lectio Libri Apocalypsis Beati Joannis Apostoli – Lesson from the Book of Apocalypse of Blessed John the Apostle

Apocalypse 14 : 13

In diebus illis : Audivi vocem de caelo, dicentem mihi : Scribe : Beati mortui, qui in Domino moriuntur. Amodo jam dicit Spiritus, ut requiescant a laboribus suis : opera enim illorum sequuntur illos.

English translation

In those days I heard a voice from heaven, saying to me, “Write, blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord.” “From henceforth now,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labours, for their works follow them.”

(Usus Antiquior) Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls’ Day (Feria I Classis) – Saturday, 2 November 2024 : Introit and Collect

Liturgical Colour : Black

Introit

4 Esdras 2 : 34, 35 and Psalm 64 : 2-3

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine : et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion, et Tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem : exaudi orationem meam, ad Te omnis caro veniet.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine : et lux perpetua luceat eis.

English translation

Eternal rest grant to them, o Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

A hymn, o God, becomes Yours in Zion, and a vow shall be paid to You in Jerusalem, o Lord, hear my prayer, all flesh shall come to You.

Eternal rest grant to them, o Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

Collect

Collect for the First Mass

Fidelium, Deus, omnium Conditur et Redemptor : animabus famulorum famularumque Tuarum remissionem cunctorum tribue peccatorum; ut indulgentiam, quam semper optaverunt, piis supplicationibus consequantur : Qui vivis et regnas in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of Your servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins, that they may obtain by loving prayers the forgiveness which they have always desired. You Who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Collect for the Second Mass

Deus, indulgentiarum Domine : da animabus famulorum famularumque Tuarum refrigerii sedem, quietis beatitudinem et luminis claritatem. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

O God, the Lord of mercies, grant to the souls of Your servants and handmaids, the anniversary of whose burial we commemorate, an abode of refreshment, the beatitude of rest, and the brightness of light. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Collect for the Third Mass

Deus, veniae largitor et humanae salutis amator : quaesumus clementiam Tuam; ut nostrae congregationis fratres, propinquos et benefactores, qui ex hoc saeculo transierunt, beata Maria semper Virgine intercedente cum omnibus Sanctis Tuis, ad perpetuae beatitudinis consortium pervenire concedas. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

O God, the Bestower of pardon and lover of man’s salvation, we beseech Your clemency, through the intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, and all Your saints, that the brethren, who have passed out of this world may together enjoy everlasting happiness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Friday, 1 November 2024 : Solemnity of All Saints (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Church celebrates the occasion of the great Solemnity of All Saints, celebrating all the holy saints, all those holy men and women who have enjoyed the beatific vision of Heaven. Today we rejoice in the honour of all these predecessors of ours who have lived their lives most worthily of God and who have shown us all how we should live ours as Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people. And today we celebrate and honour all those saints who do not have their own date of celebration or feasts in particular, together with all the other more well-known saints. They all now enjoy the great joy and happiness that the Lord has promised to all of us, the experience of Heaven, the reward that they have received from God for their faith, their virtues and all the good things that they had done in life.

And while the saints are already in Heaven enjoying the happiness and wonders there, they do not forget about us, and in fact, they are still constantly praying and interceding for each and every one of us in this world. They are in fact part of the same Church of God, and are still part of this same one Body of Christ, made up of all the believers and faithful people of God, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. While the most visible and tangible members of the Church are the ones who are still living in this world, daily struggling with our faith and with all the challenges, temptations and difficulties in life, but the saints are very much part of the same Church and they are also always concerned about us, knowing the challenges and difficulties that they themselves had once gone through and overcome.

The saints of God are parts of the Church Triumphant, with them having triumphed against the evil one and their fellow forces, in trying to destroy and bring them to their downfall. They have triumphed and won a victory with God against their enemies, and have been found worthy to enjoy the eternal gift and grace which God has always intended for each and every one of us as Christians, as His holy and beloved people. Together with them, we are also all parts of the Church of God, as the Church Militant, the ones who are still struggling daily, fighting against the evil ones and their deceptions and temptations, in trying to each God and His salvation. And we must also not forget all the other members of the Church, the parts of the Church Suffering, whom we will commemorate tommorow as part of this Allhallowtide, the faithful and holy souls of the departed in Purgatory.

Let us all now go through our Scripture passages on this Solemnity of All Saints. In our first reading today, taken from the Book of Revelations of St. John the Apostle, we heard of the vision of St. John as he saw a great throng of the righteous, a hundred and forty-four thousand of them, who had been deemed righteous by God, and who had washed their garments clean in the Blood of the Lamb, all those who have arrived into the glory and the true joy which God had prepared for them, to be united as one in praising and glorifying the Lord, together with all the Holy Angels of God, and all those whom St. John had seen in his heavenly vision are truly the saints of God, the ones whom God and His Church had deemed to be worthy of veneration and of the bliss of Heaven.

This is a reminder for all of us that no matter what challenges, difficulties, persecutions or obstacles we may have to face or endure in our path and journey in life, in the end, if we remain faithful to the Lord and true to His path and to the missions entrusted to us, eventually, we will share in His victory and triumph, and we will be triumphant like all those saints that St. John had seen in his vision. To those early Christians living during the time of St. John’s ministry and when he received these visions of the end times in the island of Patmos during his exile there, being persecuted and oppressed by the Romans and the local authorities, or by the Jewish leaders and authorities earlier on, as well as by other members of the public and the pagan supporters, this would have indeed been a truly uplifting, encouraging and hopeful message of reassurance and support.

From our second reading, taken from the Epistle of St. John the Apostle, we heard of the words of assurance from St. John reminding all of us of God’s ever enduring love for us, as He is truly our loving Father, and He has always been filled with generous and most bountiful love towards us. And because we have been truly loved by God, we are truly fortunate, as He has always considered us to be His children, and has always designed it to be so. For each one of us have been created as mentioned in the Book of Genesis, in the image and likeness of God Himself, and we have been made perfect and most wonderful, to enjoy the fullness of God’s creation, to be the ones to share His most generous and wonderful love that overflows from Himself to all of us, and as His beloved children, therefore, He has always intended for us to enjoy forever this eternity of bliss.

However, because of our disobedience and refusal to obey the Lord’s words, will and commandments, we have fallen into the traps of the evil one, who lured us with the false pleasures and attachments of worldly desires and goods, all of which had made us to fall astray from the path that God has shown us. Instead, we chose to rebel against the love of God and embraced instead the false lies and sweet words of Satan, walking down this path of disobedience and sin which caused us to be sundered and separated from God’s love and grace. We have disregarded the great things that God has created and meant for us, and instead sought the inferior and illusory desires of our worldly pursuits, attachments and ambitions, all the things which had kept us away from His loving Presence and from the eternal inheritance and true glory awaiting us.

Then, in our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel of St. Matthew, we heard of the words of the Lord teaching His disciples and all the people in the famous Sermon on the Mount, also known as the Eight Beatitudes. The word Beatitude is the same meaning as ‘Blessed’ or ‘Beatus’ and this is because the Lord pronounced a series of blessings for all those whose lives have truly been worthy of God, in how they have embodied good and virtuous lives, full of love for one another and with genuine faith and desire to love the Lord and to seek Him wholeheartedly in their lives. We heard about those who were poor in spirit, referring to those who were humble enough to recognise their faults and shortcomings, recognising the need for them to embrace God’s mercy and love, His guidance and strength, and also those who have mourned and in trouble, being persecuted because of their faith in God.

We also heard of those who were peacemakers and striving for peace, those who seek and hunger for justice for everyone, those who show mercy to others around them and other virtuous qualities and things which the Lord was in fact encouraging all of us to do through His proclamations. All of those virtues, values and actions were what the innumerable holy men and women, some of whom had been declared officially by the Church as saints and celebrated in our ceremonies and liturgies, have done in their own lives, in their own unique ways. And each one of us also have the potential and opportunities that the Lord Himself has granted us generously to be like one of them as well. Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, today, on this Solemnity of All Saints day, while we celebrate and rejoice in the memory and honour of all those holy men and women, our predecessors, it is also an important reminder of what we can be.

All the saints have once been sinners as well, just like us. They had their flaws and weaknesses, faults and mistakes which they had made. If we read through the numerous lives and experiences of the saints, then we will realise that at some point in their lives, they have encountered many of the things which we have ourselves experienced, all the struggles, challenges and difficulties, the persecutions, trials and obstacles we may have faced in different moments in our lives. But what is common from the lives and experiences of the saints is that they all reject the path of sin and darkness, embracing wholeheartedly afterwards the path towards God and His salvation in their own unique ways, making good use of the various gifts, talents and opportunities that He had granted to each one of them, for the benefit of the people around them and for the causes of the Church and its missions.

We must realise that the Church is one Body of Christ, the united Body composed of those whom God had called and chosen from this world to follow Him, and to be His own people. And He had called us all with our own various diverse backgrounds, with our own imperfections and flaws, faults and sins. We are not a Church composed of perfect people without any fault, sin or imperfections, as none of us can claim to be such perfect people. But we are all reminded through the examples and the fates of the saints, who are now enjoying the wonderful bliss of Heaven, that we may also share in their joy, and that none of us are denied this opportunity by the Lord. Now what matters is for us to embrace this opportunity that the Lord has given us and do our best to walk in the footsteps of the holy saints of God, to enter into the narrow path to the Kingdom of God.

May the Lord, our most loving God and Creator, and with His innumerable saints and the Holy Angels, continue to strengthen us in all of our journey and efforts to come towards Him with faith and dedication. May He continue to bless our every good efforts, works and endeavours in each and every moments of our lives so that we may always be committed to do what is right and just, virtuous and worthy of His cause, as we should always be doing. May His glorious saints, our holy predecessors, in their constant intercessions and prayers for us continue to help and inspire us all in our own journey, so that one day, we may ourselves be in their place, to be worthy partakers and parts of God’s everlasting Kingdom and dominion. All the Holy Saints of God, Holy Men and Women of God, pray for us sinners, now and always. Amen.

Friday, 1 November 2024 : Solemnity of All Saints (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Matthew 5 : 1-12a

At that time, when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up the mountain. He sat down and His disciples gathered around Him. Then He spoke and began to teach them : 

“Fortunate are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Fortunate are those who mourn; they shall be comforted. Fortunate are the gentle; they shall possess the land.”

“Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. Fortunate are the merciful, for they shall find mercy. Fortunate are those with pure hearts, for they shall see God.”

“Fortunate are those who work for peace; they shall be called children of God. Fortunate are those who are persecuted for the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”

“Fortunate are you, when people insult you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you because you are My followers. Be glad and joyful, for a great reward is kept for you in God.”

Friday, 1 November 2024 : Solemnity of All Saints (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

1 John 3 : 1-3

See what singular love the Father has for us : we are called children of God, and we really are. This is why the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Beloved, we are God’s children, and what we shall be has not, yet, been shown. Yet, when He appears in His glory, we know, that we shall be like Him, for, then, we shall see Him as He is. All who have such a hope, try to be pure, as He is pure.

Friday, 1 November 2024 : Solemnity of All Saints (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 23 : 1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

The earth and its fullness belong to YHVH, the world and all that dwell in it. He has founded it upon the ocean and set it firmly upon the waters.

Who will ascend the mountain of YHVH? Who will stand in His holy place? Those with clean hands and pure heart, who desire not what is vain.

They will receive blessings from YHVH, a reward from God, their Saviour. Such are the people who seek Him, who seek the face of Jacob’s God.