A solemn litany
All Saints/All Souls The Litany of Saints is not a once-a-year text, but we sometimes think it is because we encounter it most often only at the Easter Vigil. But the Litany of Saints has a rich tradition of being … Read More
Imperfect lives
All Saints/All Souls [Content warning: sexual abuse] When an abuse scandal happens in which the abuser is an artist—a filmmaker, painter, writer, or composer—there is often the question of what to do with that person’s work. Toss it or, as … Read More
Bulletin Shorts for the Solemnity of All Saints and The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
All Saints, Solemnity – Monday, 01 November 2021 Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14. Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6. 1 John 3:1-3. Matthew 5:1-12a. Nine Times Blessed. All the saints, those named as such and those many more known now by name only to … Read More
Five roadblocks to better preaching
If you are a homilist, you know what it is like to look out at the assembly on Sunday and see a sluggish, disengaged assembly. Most people may not even be looking at you. And those who are, are staring … Read More
Bulletin Shorts for the Solemnity of All Saints
All Saints, Solemnity – Sunday, 01 November 2020 Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14. Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6. 1 John 3:1-3. Matthew 5:1-12a. Saints Next Door. It can be easy to view the beatitudes as impossible goals for Kingdom of Heaven living. But … Read More
Our call to holiness
All Saints / All Souls With All Saints on Sunday this year, it’s the perfect opportunity to highlight today and tomorrow’s Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed with even more solemnity than usual. First, read or reread Pope Francis’s apostolic … Read More
When DO the saints go marching in?
Solemnity of All Saints / The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed One of our most underused treasures is the Litany of Saints. Most of us pray it only at the Easter Vigil, unless there are no baptisms and the … Read More
Called by name
The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Next Sunday, catechumens around the world who have been deemed ready for initiation will be sent to their local cathedral to give their names to their bishop and thus be chosen for baptism this … Read More
Doorways, litanies, and other thin places of the liturgy
Readings for the Solemnity of All Saints Readings for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) These dual feasts of All Saints and All Souls give us an opportunity to reflect on symbols of liminality. One such symbol … Read More