The Year of St. Joseph and "A Good Death"

In this Year of St. Joseph being celebrated in the Diocese of La Crosse we are reminded, in this month of All Souls, of the special part St. Joseph plays in the lives of those who are dying.  Because of the special grace he received dying in the arms of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and in the presence of His Blessed Mother, St. Joseph is the model for all the dying and the patron saint of the same.

As we pray this month especially for the poor souls in purgatory, we are reminded of the necessity for preparing ourselves for death, which is the doorway into eternal life.  Death can come upon us as a “thief in the night” or as He really is: our Savior, and our Friend – Jesus Christ (cf. Luke 12:35-40); but, in any case, He does and will come: will we be prepared to meet and welcome Him?

One of the prayers offered on First Wednesday, in the novena to St. Joseph, is a “prayer for a good death”.

O holy St. Joseph, who died in the arms of the Son of God and in the presence of his holy Mother, / I beseech you at my last hour to stand by me, with your immaculate Spouse, / that assisted by both your prayers, I may repent of my sins, / and breathe my last breath in an act of perfect love and confidence in my Savior, / repeating His blessed Name, exalted above every name, / and proclaiming joyfully “Lord, into your hands, I commend my spirit.”

Use this prayer as you undertake, even now, that necessary preparation for eternal life.  As we continue this month in our prayers for the poor souls, let us do that which is necessary to prepare our own souls for a quick and painless entry into the eternal joy promised for those who are sons and daughters of the Most High.

Scripturae Sacrae Affectus (III)

 This week we come to our last installment on Pope Francis’ apostolic letter on St. Jerome and Holy Scripture.  The Holy Father speaks about the issue of inculturation with regards to the translation and interpretation of Holy Scripture.  He gives us a very thoughtful and beautiful reflection on how the work of translating begins with the work of encounter, first between the culture of the times from which Sacred Scripture comes and the translator, and then the encounter between the translator and the culture into which the Sacred Scriptures are being translated.

In speaking of St. Jerome’s work, Pope Francis also calls to mind those missionaries, who, over the ages have undertaken the invaluable work of preparing “grammars” and dictionaries which have paved the way for encounter between our Christian faith and the culture into which we have come anew.  I think in a particular way of St. John de Brebeuf, and Venerable Bishop Baraga, whose work was so significant in bringing about that encounter and subsequent conversion of so many native Americans.

This issue of enrichment and encounter is something I always try to instill in my Spanish students.  Even when we are the one’s bringing the Gospel to a culture, we find ourselves enriched by the encounter because language carries with it a different perspective, a different way of looking at things.  Pope Francis points out how this reveals the truth of Sacred Scripture, not as a dead letter which can become a source of cultural imperialism, but is the living Word which transforms people and cultures both in the receiving and in the giving.

Some people (especially my mother!) have asked why I “need” so many Bibles.  At this point I have seven different translations in three languages.  I also have a number of commentaries.  These help with the one side of the equation – from Hebrew and Greek to Latin, and to English and other modern languages.  We also need to understand that language continually grows, even changes.  Thus, one way of communicating an idea may no long communicate the Truth intended with the passing of years.  Also, our understanding of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin language and culture continues to grow with continuing research.  And finally, the presuppositions of translators does affect the resulting translation.

Knowing their aims, and bias, helps in both choosing, and judging the appropriateness of a particular translation.The job that remains, OUR job, is to take these resources, by which we have encountered the living Word, and bringing them to the contemporary culture.  Let get to work, the work of encounter which saves and enriches souls, including our own.

All Saints and its Octave

We begin the month of November with our annual celebration of All Saints.  This feast, with a very long history in the universal Church, is that celebration in which we recognize that there is, indeed, a heavenly host which includes those officially recognized and canonized (that is, entered into the canon or list of the saints) as well as the numberless band of those who are also amongst the blessed.

In the celebration of this feast we thank almighty God for the example of the saints as well as the prayers they continually offer on our behalf.  In celebrating this feast, we are also inspired to greater efforts in cooperating with God’s holy will; so that we may ourselves be numbered among that cloud of witnesses to the mercy and glory of God.

We spend the rest of the month making a claim on that mercy for those brothers and sisters of ours who, having loved God, but also having fallen short of His perfection, suffer that final cleansing (purgation) which will at last find them fit and ready to enter into the fullness of heavenly glory.

Traditionally we have an opportunity on the octave of the Feast of All Saints, as well as on the Commemoration of All Souls itself to receive a plenary indulgence and apply it to one of the poor souls in purgatory.  Indeed, during the octave we can receive and apply one plenary indulgence each day of the octave.  The way this is done is by, in a state of grace and free from all attachments to sin, one stops at a cemetery or church and prays for the poor souls, along with the usual conditions which include sacramental Confession within a week before or after, reception of holy Communion, and prayers for the intention of the Holy Father (the Pope).

Because of the current pandemic, the Holy See is concerned that Christ’s faithful have the opportunity to attend Mass (in order to receive Holy Communion), get to Confession, and even visit the cemetery without the fear of a lack of ability to keep appropriately distanced.  Out of this concern, the Holy Father has extended the ability to obtain this plenary indulgence for the poor souls in purgatory to the entire month of November.

Recognizing that, because of conditions, some will be unable to even leave their homes, for these, the Holy Father has given the opportunity to gain this indulgence from their home; of course, this will mean asking Father to come and hear one’s Confession and give to you Holy Communion.

I am always happy to do what I can to assist in these most worthy works of mercy and love.  So, please don’t hesitate to contact me and arrange for a home visit if you are in need.

“May Christ our Lord help us all with His bountiful grace, so that we may know His holy will and perfectly fulfill it.” (St. Ignatius of Loyola)