Dear Brothers and Sisters in  Christ,

The month of November has  a way of reminding us that all things in this world are passing. Leafless trees and  dried-up plants evoke the  slumber of the earth in the  northern hemisphere and a  certain quiet drowsiness, not  exactly hibernation, comes upon us as well. This time  presents certain opportunities: quiet meditation and  preparation for our final victory is one of them. 

We began by recognizing the victory of all saints,  known and unknown; and also those who are being  purified in Purgatory that they may present themselves untarnished before the Lord. The first group  we implore to assist us in living the Faith whole heartedly, the second are those imploring us to assist  them in that purification process by prayer, fasting  and works of charity. When they become full fledged saints we may certainly need their help for the same  reason. 

When we step back and see this interaction we see  the beauty of this three dimensional Church to which  we belong: the Church triumphant in Heaven, the  Church being purified that it may glean like the sun,  and the Church on earth still struggling and making  progress to Its final goal — Paradise. We who pres ently are members of the pilgrim Church on earth  have a lot to do, principally to bring others to Christ.  We are very much reminded of that in today’s Gospel  when the summation of the Law requires us to love  others as we do ourselves. This of course requires a  certain boldness in how we conduct ourselves here  and now. We must let others know the Truth that  Christ has revealed to us even at the expense of  personal suffering and rejection. Our heroes are the  Saints in Heaven and we engage their help to evangelize those who know not the Truth. Let us together  concentrate on one truth in particular these crucial  days. God is the author and giver of life and no one  has the right to put innocent life to death most especially the innocent life of a child in the womb. 

Vote wisely. 

In Christ, 

Father Langan