Thought you guys might like to see the letter to the parents in our Relgious Ed. Program that was on the flip side of our November calendar. We're talking about purgatory.
Dear Parents,
During the month of November, “we remember all of those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith” (from the Eucharistic Prayer). We start the month with All Saints’ Day, a day where we celebrate all of those people who are saints in heaven, but who have not been canonized or beatified. November 1 is their feast day.
Immediately following is All Souls’ Day. On this day, we pray for all those who are in purgatory, getting ready for heaven. We offer prayers and Masses for them that they may be released from purgatory soon and spend eternity with the Lord.
When I talk with the children about purgatory, we first talk about why the Church teaches that there is such a place. Let’s say you have just been eating lunch in a fast food restaurant. You leave and get in your car and you smell like Chicken Nuggets and French Fries. You’ve got a big fancy party to go to later that night, and you don’t want to go to the party smelling like old fast food, so you go home and get a bath and put on your party clothes and then you go to the party.
Purgatory does for us what that shower after the fast food place does for us. People who are in purgatory are absolutely going to heaven. There is no question about it; they are on the way. They just need to get the “smell” of earth washed off first. They are purified from the venial sins they committed before they go to heaven forever.
Many of our non-Catholic Christian friends find purgatory to be a big stumbling block when they think about Catholicism. They ask where we can find such a teaching in the Bible. We can find these answers in the Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs 1030-1032. In Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 3:15, and in the First Letter of St. Peter, Paul and Peter speak of a purification as if through fire, like gold that is purified by fire. As Pope St. Gregory the Great pointed out at the turn of the 7th century, in Matthew 12: 31-32, Jesus talks about sins that will not be forgiven in this age or in the age to come. “From this sentence,” St. Gregory says, “we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.” Also, in the Second Book of the Maccabees in the Old Testament, there is mention of the Jewish tradition of praying for the dead. From the Church’s earliest days, it was customary to pray for the dead and to offer up almsgiving and works of penance on behalf of those who have died.
We set aside an entire month to remember the dead because they can’t do anything for themselves right now to make their time in Purgatory go faster. They need us, those who are on earth working our way to heaven, to remember them and to offer our prayers, our trials, and our good works on their behalf. I know a man who, when he kneels in the pew to get ready for Mass, offers the Mass for the soul who is closest to entering heaven from Purgatory and also for the soul who is the farthest away. He calls it “inviting” those two souls to Mass with him.
When you go to church these November weekends, please “invite” some soul in Purgatory to Mass with you. Please remember those souls in your prayers. Someday, we will be in Purgatory waiting for someone down here to “invite” us to Mass so we can be closer to being with Jesus in heaven.
God bless, Amy Giglio
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
full disclosure
Scene: On the way home from Mass; Sunday, 10 a.m.
Scott: Do we have any eggs?
Me: Only the egg whites in the carton. Oh wait. I think there might be one real egg. There's also bacon in the fridge and sausage in the freezer, but you might just want to use the bacon so you don't have to wait for the sausage to defrost.
Later; at home:
Scott: Hon, I'm all for watching what we eat and being healthy, but I need to know if the meat you tell me is available for breakfast is what I'm thinking it is. Because turkey bacon is not the same as bacon.
Scott: Do we have any eggs?
Me: Only the egg whites in the carton. Oh wait. I think there might be one real egg. There's also bacon in the fridge and sausage in the freezer, but you might just want to use the bacon so you don't have to wait for the sausage to defrost.
Later; at home:
Scott: Hon, I'm all for watching what we eat and being healthy, but I need to know if the meat you tell me is available for breakfast is what I'm thinking it is. Because turkey bacon is not the same as bacon.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
She's talking more
The baby, who I'm going to start referring to as "Curly Sue" since she's quickly becoming less of a Bambina, is starting to use more words. It's kind of funny when she wants me and yells "HEY!" Less so when it's at 2:00 in the morning.
Bubba hit her on the head this afternoon and I turned to her and I said, did your brother hit you on the head? She responded by hitting herself on the top of the head. I said, where did your brother hit you? Again, the self-hit on the top of the noggin.
Later, as she was finishing her dinner, I asked her if she wanted some more to eat. She grunted and nodded in the affirmative. I asked her if she wanted some grapes. She started at me. I said, "Curly Sue, yes or no, do you want some grapes?" she gave me the grunt and nod again.
She picked up a lolly that belonged to Primo. And she is really not ready yet for lollypops. So I said, "Oh, sweetie. That belongs to Primo. Can you give it to Primo?" She walked over to him and babbled something that sounded an awful lot like "Here you are."
Give her 2 months and she'll be talking in complete sentences. Good grief where does the time go?
Bubba hit her on the head this afternoon and I turned to her and I said, did your brother hit you on the head? She responded by hitting herself on the top of the head. I said, where did your brother hit you? Again, the self-hit on the top of the noggin.
Later, as she was finishing her dinner, I asked her if she wanted some more to eat. She grunted and nodded in the affirmative. I asked her if she wanted some grapes. She started at me. I said, "Curly Sue, yes or no, do you want some grapes?" she gave me the grunt and nod again.
She picked up a lolly that belonged to Primo. And she is really not ready yet for lollypops. So I said, "Oh, sweetie. That belongs to Primo. Can you give it to Primo?" She walked over to him and babbled something that sounded an awful lot like "Here you are."
Give her 2 months and she'll be talking in complete sentences. Good grief where does the time go?
Good for you, Joe
Joe Torre decided not to take the Yanks' offer to just return for the 2008 season. Good for him. He can do better. Go coach for an organization that wants you. Go hit the broadcast booth. Go sit on the beach a while. You've earned it, Joe.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Oh, MAN!
The Man Meme (Saw at Aimee's place)
1. Who is your man? Scott
2. How long have you been together? 12 years
3. How long did you date? 5 years
4. How old is your man? 31
5. Who eats more? undeniably Scott.
6. Who said “I love you” first? I think I did. Also, after we had been together about 3 months, I told him that I was going to marry him. The night before one of his college finals. And he still stuck around.
7. Who is taller? Scott, but neither one of us is what you'd call tall.
8. Who sings better? Me.
9. Who is smarter? We are both very smart. However, I am better at pretending to be an expert at things I have no clue about.
10. Whose temper is worse? Mine.
11. Who does the laundry? Usually my mom, but if she doesn't get to it, I'm the one who does. I do the ironing, mostly.
12. Who takes out the trash? Scott. But Primo takes out the recycling.
13. Who sleeps on the right hand side of the bed? Me.
14. Who pays the bills? Me.
15. Who is better with the computer? Scott. Definitely.
16. Who mows the lawn? Scott. the chore breakdown is I do inside and he does outside.
17. Who cooks dinner? Me. If Mom doesn't get to it first.
18. Who drives when you are together? Scott. It's just better that way.
19. Who pays when you go out? If it's a date he does.
20. Who is most stubborn? SCOTT.
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? I'd say we're even on that one.
22. Whose parents do you see the most? Mine, since my mother lives with us.
23. Who kissed who first? I tried to kiss him first, but he told me that he didn't want to kiss me so early in our relationship (the first night. I know! I was so trampy! ;) ). He finally made the move about a week or 2 later.
24. Who asked who out? He asked me on a group date to a local pool hall with a bunch of his friends. I don't know if it was really a date though.
25. Who Proposed? Scott in the living room of my apartment.
26. Who is more sensitive? Probably me. His skin is pretty thick. But we have learned how to push each others' buttons
27. Who has more friends? This is a weird question. We're each other's best friend.
28. Who has more siblings? me. I have 3 brothers. He has one.
29. Who wears the pants in the family? As I once heard Damon Owens say, "Ain't nothing in nature with two heads that isn't a monster." The buck stops with Scott.
1. Who is your man? Scott
2. How long have you been together? 12 years
3. How long did you date? 5 years
4. How old is your man? 31
5. Who eats more? undeniably Scott.
6. Who said “I love you” first? I think I did. Also, after we had been together about 3 months, I told him that I was going to marry him. The night before one of his college finals. And he still stuck around.
7. Who is taller? Scott, but neither one of us is what you'd call tall.
8. Who sings better? Me.
9. Who is smarter? We are both very smart. However, I am better at pretending to be an expert at things I have no clue about.
10. Whose temper is worse? Mine.
11. Who does the laundry? Usually my mom, but if she doesn't get to it, I'm the one who does. I do the ironing, mostly.
12. Who takes out the trash? Scott. But Primo takes out the recycling.
13. Who sleeps on the right hand side of the bed? Me.
14. Who pays the bills? Me.
15. Who is better with the computer? Scott. Definitely.
16. Who mows the lawn? Scott. the chore breakdown is I do inside and he does outside.
17. Who cooks dinner? Me. If Mom doesn't get to it first.
18. Who drives when you are together? Scott. It's just better that way.
19. Who pays when you go out? If it's a date he does.
20. Who is most stubborn? SCOTT.
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? I'd say we're even on that one.
22. Whose parents do you see the most? Mine, since my mother lives with us.
23. Who kissed who first? I tried to kiss him first, but he told me that he didn't want to kiss me so early in our relationship (the first night. I know! I was so trampy! ;) ). He finally made the move about a week or 2 later.
24. Who asked who out? He asked me on a group date to a local pool hall with a bunch of his friends. I don't know if it was really a date though.
25. Who Proposed? Scott in the living room of my apartment.
26. Who is more sensitive? Probably me. His skin is pretty thick. But we have learned how to push each others' buttons
27. Who has more friends? This is a weird question. We're each other's best friend.
28. Who has more siblings? me. I have 3 brothers. He has one.
29. Who wears the pants in the family? As I once heard Damon Owens say, "Ain't nothing in nature with two heads that isn't a monster." The buck stops with Scott.
It's different down there
Primo (from the third row of Vinny the Race Van): When I grow up, I'd like to have a portable restaurant, with tables and chairs and a tent and a grill and next to it a place to make fries. And we'd take it all the way across the country to Colorado and then down to Texas. But then we'd need a horse carrier too because they only ride horses down there.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Happy Feast of St. Francis!
Canticle of the SunMost High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings. To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, Who is the day through whom You give us light. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour, Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, And fair and stormy, all weather's moods, by which You cherish all that You have made.
Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water, So useful, humble, precious and pure.
Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire, through whom You light the night and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You my Lord through our Sister, Mother Earth who sustains and governs us, producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You and bear sickness and trial. Blessed are those who endure in peace, By You Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death, from whom no-one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will. No second death can do them harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks, And serve Him with great humility. Amen.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
So, Amy, where have you been?
Well, things have been a little crazy at the office. CCD-oh, sorry-Relgious Education started the week of September 16 and a new Confirmation Program that is going well (did I tell you I'm teaching most of these classes?). I've been working a lot of nights lately, meetings, RE classes, etc. Did I mention that the house is under construction right now? My Dear Scott and our neighbor are converting our back porch into an all weather room that will serve as our dining room. They raised the ceiling, cut a pass through window in the wall between the porch and the kitchen, replaced windows, and installed a sliding glass door. Next, they have to remove an old door and board up the hole and an old window and board up that hole too. I hope that there is drywall up by Thanksgiving since I have hosted that event 6 out of the 7 years we've been married. After that room is looking all spiffy the kitchen will be looking awful so I think we'll be updating our '70's brown kitchen over the summer.
Oh yeah, and I've got 2 boys at 2 different schools getting out at two different times. And a little girl who likes to see me once in a while. And Scott likes me to watch the Yanks with him. So, the blogging has suffered. Better the blogging suffer than my marriage, eh?
So there it is right now. There's a lot of awesome stuff going on in the Church right now. New Archbishop of Baltimore who just seems to ROCK; World Youth Day is coming (wish I could go...); Pope Benedict seems to be in good health (viva il papa!). God bless us, every one!
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