The Institute for Christian Formation

“From the rising of the sun to its setting let the name of the Lord be praised.” (Psalm 113:3)

Solemnity of All Saints - Friday, November 1, 2024

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

Today’s Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110124.cfm
Lectio Divina: https://ocarm.org/en/lectio-divina/1792-lectio-divina-november-2024/file

Reflection: Jesus, thank you for giving us the Beatitudes – your blueprint for Christian living. May we always be poor in spirit, putting our trust in God. May we mourn injustice, be gentle, show mercy, and have hearts open fully to God. May we be peacemakers, always working to bring about the Kingdom of God, even when facing persecution and insults. May we rejoice and be glad, knowing that Kingdom living is eternal life with and in you!

Image:
The Sermon of the Beatitudes
James Tissot
1886-1896
Brooklyn Museum

All Saints Day – November 1

When we talk about the Communion of Saints, we are talking about the entire Church on earth and in heaven. We are among Jesus’ disciples still journeying here on earth. Then there are those very faithful disciples who have died and are now sharing in the glory of heaven. Some of these people were known by many and their good deeds have been recalled down through the ages; Saint Francis of Assisi or Saint Joan of Arc, for example. Dead for centuries, we still know them by name, and their holiness has been officially recognized by the Church. We may or may not know the names of other faithful disciples who have died and are now in heaven. Perhaps a bystander in a Scripture story whose name was never recorded but was a close follower of Jesus, perhaps someone who died for their faith whose name was never recorded, and perhaps a friend or relative we have loved who faithfully followed Jesus while alive. We remember all of these saints, named and unnamed, on All Saints Day, November 1st. For more information and free handouts/printables, visit
http://www.instituteforchristianformation.org/AllSaintsAllSouls.html.

Image:
Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven
Fra Angelico, 1428-1430
National Gallery, London, UK

Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month. Amen.
(Fr. François-Xavier Gautrelet, 1844)

May God grant us a restful night and a peaceful death…

Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time - October 31, 2024

“…Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Luke 13:35b)

Today’s Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/103124.cfm
Lectio Divina: https://ocarm.org/en/lectio-divina/1751-lectio-divina-october-2024/file

Reflection: The last phrase in today’s Gospel, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” should sound very familiar to us. We sing these words each time we celebrate Mass, when we sing the Sanctus (Holy, Holy) at the conclusion to the Preface to the Eucharistic Prayer. Have you ever noticed how many of the words in our liturgy come to us directly from Scripture? Let us thank God today for the gift we have received that we can encounter the Word of God (Jesus) in the Word of God (Scripture)!

Image:
Christ Great High Priest
Iconographer: Andreas Ritzos
Late 15th Century
Moni Gonias Monastery, Kolynuari, Crete, Greece

Happy All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween) – the Eve of All Saints Day!


The word “saint” comes from the Latin word “sanctus” which means “holy.” Another word for “holy” is “hallow.” Remember that when we pray the Lord’s Prayer (the Our Father), we pray “hallowed be your name.” A long time ago, All Saints Day was called All Hallows Day, or Hallowmas. Now, as we know, All Saints Day is a solemnity. A solemnity begins at sundown on the eve of the feast day. The eve of All Saints Day was called All Hallows Eve, or Halloween! So Halloween is technically a celebration that begins the month of November! For more information and free handouts/printables, visit
http://www.instituteforchristianformation.org/AllSaintsAllSouls.html.

Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month. Amen.
(Fr. François-Xavier Gautrelet, 1844)

Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time - October 30, 2024

“And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 13:29)

Today’s Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/103024.cfm
Lectio Divina: https://ocarm.org/en/lectio-divina/1751-lectio-divina-october-2024/file

Reflection: May we always strive to enter through that narrow gate, and be counted among those with a seat at the table in the Kingdom of God.

Image:
Mystical Supper
1312
Holy Monastery of Vatopedi
Mt. Athos, Greece

Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time - October 29, 2024

“What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” (Luke 13:18-19)

Today’s Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102924.cfm
Lectio Divina: https://ocarm.org/en/lectio-divina/1751-lectio-divina-october-2024/file

Reflection: Mother Teresa once said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” The parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the yeast in today’s Gospel are wonderful reminders that even our smallest actions, when done with love, can yield great results. Jesus, help us to live our lives this day going about our daily routine with great love.

Image:
Saviour of Smolonsk with Parables (detail)
Mid 16th Century

October 31-November 2: The Days of the Dead


Since during the month of November we remember our dead in a special way, All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day and All Souls Day (October 31-November 2) are sometimes called the Days of the Dead. Different cultures celebrate these days in different ways. Light (candles, bonfires, Jack-O-Lanterns) is usually part of this celebration. Some people set up altars or shrines in their homes to honor their family and friends who have died. Some people have big celebrations on these days at the cemetery where their relatives are buried. Why not find out more about these customs and traditions, and then adapt these in your own home and family? Download our free “All Saints/All Souls” Bulletin athttp://www.instituteforchristianformation.org/ICF_All_Saints-All_Souls_Bulletin.pdf

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles - Monday, October 28, 2024

“Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles…” (Luke 6:12-13)

Today’s Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102824.cfm
Lectio Divina: https://ocarm.org/en/lectio-divina/1751-lectio-divina-october-2024/file

Reflection: Before calling the Twelve Apostles, Jesus spent the night in prayer. How do we prepare to make important decisions in our lives? Like Jesus, let us always spend time in prayer. May we quiet ourselves and listen to God’s will for us as practice spiritual discernment.

Image:
Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
14th century
Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow

Today’s Saints - Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles – October 28


Saints Simon and Jude were two of Jesus original twelve Apostles. Simon is also called Simon the Canaanite or Simon the Zealot. Jude, also known as Thaddeus, is the patron of those despairing or in hopeless situations. The famous Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital was built in his honor, as the entertainer Danny Thomas, founder of Saint Jude’s, prayed to Saint Jude and his prayers were answered. Both saints are mentioned in the Roman Canon.