In the tradition of the Holy Mother Church, November has long been a time set aside as a month dedicated to remembering those who have gone before us… a time in the Church calendar for the offering of prayers and alms giving for the souls of our beloved deceased who may now be in purgatory,( which, by the way)…. are all of those who have died in a state of grace, but are now caught in a state of purification so that they may be cleansed of any blemish and made totally clean so as to be made worthy to join God in heaven….

As we enter into the second week of our November journey… our prayer list continues to grow as we hear the tragic news from a small town in Texas….the mass shooting of Christians. Christians who had come together on the Sabbath day, to pray and worship  our Heavenly Father... A heavy burden has been laid upon their hearts… A heavy burden has been laid upon their congregation….. a heavy burden has been laid upon us all…brothers and sisters in Christ….

With the onslaught of terrorist-ic events that have occurred just in the last couple of weeks… we are faced with the truth that there is an evil in this world that wishes to destroy all that God has made good… And as Christians who desire that all should be reconciled to the same body of Christ…we must unite ourselves to those who are suffering …We must reach out to those who feel lost, with the love and knowledge that Christ’s teachings left with us. And even if only in prayer… we should unite ourselves with their mourning… Lifting them up to the good God in Heaven…asking for His mercy to be rained down upon them and their families….to ease the severity of their pains while they struggle to piece their lives together. We should be praying that God will comfort them in their time of need…and that He will let His mercy be upon those who have died…So this November, as we offer our prayers to God the Father in Heaven, He Who created all things,  let us not only pray for our loved ones, but also for those who mourn… and more specifically  for the souls of the faithful departed who died …in these recent horrific events.

Out of the depths I have cried to Thee O Lord! Lord, hear my voice. Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord! wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it? For with Thee there is mercy: and by reason of Thy law I have waited on Thee, O Lord!
My soul hath relied on His word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord. From the morning watch even until night:
let Israel hope in the Lord. For with the Lord there is mercy; and with Him plentiful Redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord! And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.
Amen.
V. Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Bless, O my God! the repose I am about to take, that, renewing my strength, I may be better enabled to serve Thee. Pour down Thy blessings, O Lord! on my parents, relations, friends, and enemies. Protect the Pope, our Bishop, and all the Pastors of Thy holy Church. Assist the poor and the afflicted, and those who are now in their last agony. Look with an eye of pity on the suffering souls in purgatory, particularly N… N…; put an end to their torments, and lead them forth into everlasting joy. Amen.