Saturday, 13 December 2025

The Handy Little Guide to Novenas - Allison Gingras - OSV Handy Little Guides

The Handy Little Guide to Novenas
ISBN 9781639661800
eISBN 9781639661817
ASIN B0CWMB61DQ

The Handy Little Guide to Novenas - Allison Gingras - OSV Handy Litte Guides

This is the fourth of the ‘Handy Little Guide’ books from Our Sunday Visitor that I have read, it is available in eBook format and I believe it is one of 4 available digitally from the 9 in the series, though one of them is not available digitally in Canada. This is a pity. I want to state that this is a wonderful little book or booklet. It was a great little read, and one that could read repeatedly, and with new benefits each time. Second, I really wish this that others in the ‘Handy Little’ series were available as eBooks. After having read four in the series I want to read the others but almost never pick up physical books anymore, or if I do I scan them to make digital copies if I am very desperate to read them. Mainly due to my dyslexia. 

The chapters in this booklet are:

1. Discovering Novenas
2. History of the Novena
3. Biblical Connections
4. The Novena Prayer Mindset
5. Novena Fundamentals
6. Indulge Me for a Minute
7. Flexible and Joyful
8. Remembering to Pray
9. What Novena Should I Pray?
10. Gather Your Saint Posse
11. Make Friends with the Poor Souls
12. Novenas to Add to Your Repertoire
13. Novenas with Extra-Special Blessings
14. Miracles Happen

The description of this volume is:

“The Blessed Mother and the twelve apostles remained in the Upper Room in prayer for nine days after the Lord's Ascension. From those nine days of prayer, the tradition of novenas — praying for a specific period of time for a special intention — was born. The word "novena" is derived from the Latin novem, meaning nine.

The Handy Little Guide to Novenas is your easy-to-read, down-to-earth introduction to this beautiful devotion. In this brief booklet, author and novena enthusiast Allison Gingras helps you understand and practice this ancient, yet totally relevant, form of prayer. You'll learn:
  • The fundamentals of novenas — when to pray them, for how long, and to whom
  • The biblical connections of novenas
  • The proper mindset for praying a novena, including what not to do
  • Recommendations for tried-and-true novenas”
I only highlighted a few sections while reading this volume, they are:

“The effect of that first foray into praying a novena? I learned prayer’s most significant outcome: the change it brought about in me.”

“Fr. William Saunders defines a novena: A nine-day period of private or public prayer to obtain special graces, to implore special favors, or make special petitions. (Novena is derived from the Latin novem, meaning nine.) As the definition suggests, the novena has always had more of a sense of urgency and neediness.”

“Whether the novena lasts nine minutes, nine hours, five days, forty days, or fifty-four days, all are valid ways of praying for intercession in your time of need.”

“All prayer is good, all have merit, and I guarantee all will have some positive outcome, though most of the merit and grace will be found in what prayer does to the one who prays. He may not change our circumstances, but God will certainly touch and change our hearts.”

“As with all things, the growing popularity of something good can lead to abuses and misconceptions, and novena devotions are no exception. As so wisely explained by the Marian Fathers: “There are no absolute guarantees. Prayer must always be made according to the will of God. Even Christ himself prayed, ‘Not my will, Father, but Yours be done.’ We pray with trust that God will give us what he knows is best for us.”*”

“The plan God has for our lives is perfect, and we could spend a lifetime contemplating his mind, ways, and thoughts and not make a dent in uncovering their depth. Additionally, at least for me, tremendous solace can be acquired in this famous quote attributed to Saint Teresa of Ávila: “There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.””

“All prayer should begin with the Sign of the Cross, as it invokes the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

“Father Mitch Pacwa, SJ, a respected Scripture scholar, recommends three essential elements for the use of novenas: First, the prayers are specific, which helps us make our needs before God specific without telling God how to answer our prayer. Second, the prayers include an expression of trust and confidence in God’s ability to answer them. “Often we have some doubts, so we pray like the man with the epileptic son,” he said. “‘ Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.’ Prayers that rouse our trust in God are aids to the graces of faith and hope.” Third, repeating prayers and repeating them over time is helpful because we often need that length of time to move beyond merely making a request to learning to listen to God as he speaks to us in prayer.”

“In his book The Church’s Most Powerful Novenas, the late Michael Dubruiel lists three main benefits of praying a novena: It helps develop the habit of daily prayer. It reinforces a sense that God is our Father and that he loves us. It teaches us the benefits of praying with others to God.”

“Devotions help us give order and structure to prayer, and they come with blessings and graces. Some offer additional benefits in the form of an indulgence, either plenary (full) or partial.”

“The Rosary, for me, is an act of waging war against all the obstacles that fight to keep me from the peace Jesus has for me as I await his answer or the resolution of a situation or circumstance.”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for the wisdom and instruction contained within this volume. When I was in university, I was involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, there was a series of booklets by the founder Bill Bright, called Transferable Concepts, and by reading them many times you could almost memorize them and the message so that you could share it. This volume and series remind me a lot of those books.

This book and series would be excellent for High School Students, College or University Students and older adults. It is easy to engage with. Can be read in a brief time. Allison writes in an engaging manner and offers a lot of personal examples and includes a good serving of humour. An excellent little volume. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books in the Handy Little Series from OSV:
The Handy Little Guide to Adoration - Michelle Jones Schroeder
The Handy Little Guide to Confession - Michelle Jones Schroeder
The Handy Little Guide to the Holy Spirit - Michelle Schroeder
The Handy Little Guide to the Lent - Michelle Schroeder
The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours - Barb Szyszkiewicz
…


Books in the OSV Companion in Faith Series:
For Those Who Grieve - Jeannie Ewing
Living in Peace - Father Jeffrey Kirby
The Beatitudes - Kathleen M Basi
The Lord's Prayer - T.J. Burdick
The Power of Forgiveness - Patrice Fagnant-Macarthur
…

Our Sunday Visitor Pocket Guide Series

Handy Little Guides - Our Sunday Visitor

Companion in Faith Series Our Sunday Visitor

Books by Allison Gingras:
The Gift of Invitation: 7 Ways That Jesus Invites You to a Life of Grace
Seeking Peace: A Spiritual Journey from Worry to Trust
The Handy Little Guide to Novenas
Jesus Heals: Finding Hope, Wholeness, and Peace
Three Persons, One God
…

Contributed to:
Called by Name: 365 Daily Devotions for Catholic Women
Encountering Signs of Faith: My Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints, and the Abundant Grace of God
The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers
Living the Word Catholic Women's Study Bible RSV2CE
…
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Friday, 12 December 2025

Anne of Green Gables Stratford 2025 A Review

Anne of Green Gables
2025
Director Kat Sandler
Set and Costume Designer Joanna Yu 
Lighting Designer Davida Tkach
Composer James Smith
Sound Designer Debashis Sinha
Fight and Intimacy Director Anita Nittoly
Movement Director Julie Tomaino

Anne of Green Gables Stratford 2025 A Review

This was the sixth of six planned shows this season my son, and I attended with shows ranging from late May to early November. This one my youngest daughter also attended, at 14 she absolutely loved this production. Over the last few years my son, who is now 17, and I have attended a number of plays in Stratford at the festival, and each year we have an ever growing list of shows we want to see. This year his younger sister found a love for theatre and this is the fourth show she joined us for. We have already looked at the announcement of next season’s shows and we often buy our tickets early in the winter. The other shows we have this season are Macbeth , As You Like It, The Winter's Tale, Annie, and Goblin Oedipus. 

This is an wonderful production, excellently staged! 

All three of us loved this production. It was a wonderful experience from the beginning to the end. There were so many excellent elements in this production.  

The summary of the play on the festival site states:

““IT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A WASTE TO LOOK AT A PERSON AND NOT ASK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THEY'RE THINKING AND FEELING AND WONDERING, DOESN'T IT?” 

When Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables she’s a bit of a surprise to Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, the brother and sister who had planned to adopt a boy to help out around the farm. With her tenacious spirit and winning personality, Anne earns their love and respect. But when Anne’s fiery temper causes sparks to fly in Avonlea, will she be able to win the town over too? Will her best friend Diana be lost to her forever? What about her arch nemesis Gilbert Blythe?

Generations of readers have fallen in love with Lucy Maud Montgomery’s timeless tale about the red-headed orphan longing for a forever home. Prepare to be swept off your feet once more by a fresh, new adaptation that will touch your hearts and tickle your funny bone.”

The synopsis in the house program states:

“Generations of readers have fallen in love with Lucy Maud Montgomery’s timeless tale of imagination, resilience and the transformative power of love. In this playful retelling of the literary classic, freckle-faced orphan Anne Shirley arrives in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, with little more than the clothes on her back. Soon, her vivid imagination, fiery temper and tenacious spirit win over her adoptive parents, Matthew and Marilla, as well as local residents and her schoolmates, including her arch-nemesis, Gilbert Blythe and her kindred spirit, Diana Barry. In this exuberant take on the beloved classic novel, audiences meet Anne, illuminated by her signature charm and irrepressible glory—minus the show tunes!”

After the play we have an almost an hour drive home, and usually spend the time discussing the performance. One of the things we often discuss is favourite performers. We each come up with our list; this time there is significant overlap. And it is the first time we all had the same top pick. I did not include Caroline Toal
 In my list as in the lead role you would expect a good performance and hers was outstanding!

My top ranking for the performers would be:
Tim Campbell as Matthew 
Jordin Hall as Gilbert
Sarah Dodd as Marilla
Julie Lumsden as Diana
Maev Beaty as Rachel

My son's top picks are:
Tim Campbell as Matthew
Helen Belay as Josie
Sarah Dodd as Marilla
Josue Laboucane as Mr. Phillip
Caroline Toal as Anne

My daughters were:
Tim Campbell as Matthew
Maev Beaty as Rachel
Jordin Hall as Gilbert
Caroline Toal as Anne
Julie Lumsden as Diana

The full cast is:

Anne Shirley - Caroline Toal
Marilla Cuthbert - Sarah Dodd
Matthew Cuthbert - Tim Campbell
Rachel Lynde, Chorus - Maev Beaty
Diana Barry, Chorus - Julie Lumsden
Gilbert Blythe, Chorus - Jordin Hall
Prissy Andrews, Chorus - Jennifer Villaverde
Moody Spurgeon, Chorus - Josue Laboucane
Josie Pye, Chorus - Helen Belay
Jane Andrews, Chorus - Steven Hao

Understudies
Josie Pye, Chorus - Yoshie Bancroft
Diana Barry, Chorus - Ijeoma Emesowum
Prissy Andrews, Chorus - Manami Hara
Rachel Lynde, Chorus - Jenna-Lee Hyde
Anne Shirley - Allison Lynch
Gilbert Blythe, Jane Andrews, Chorus - Douglas Oyama 
Marilla Cuthbert - Irene Poole 
Matthew Cuthbert, Moody Spurgeon, Chorus - Rylan Wilkie

As mentioned all three of us loved this production. I believe it is the first show we have seen directed by Kat Sandler. Kat at the end of her director’s note states:

“Our adaptation celebrates AGG’s rich legacy while bringing something new: a fusion of ancient Greek drama, vaudevillian comedy (did you know the Avon was once a vaudeville house?), irreverent meta-fiction and swoony rom-coms. For us, this true Canadian epic is a timeless tale that celebrates our differences and revels in chosen family, belonging, the quest for women’s rights and the power of education. 

With everything happening in the world, it has meant so much to us to spend time in a story that is all about love. Anne reminds us that if we can dream it, it can become reality. She shows us the power in our differences, the beauty in our surroundings and the joy of returning to a beloved story again and again. She reminds us to be grateful for Octobers.”

The first act is a traditional presentation of Anne, We are surprised by the chorus, a book club that is reading the book, and their imagination brings the story to life for us. The second part after the intermission is updated to today’s clothing, set, technology and some language. The two parts work well together, and overall it is a stunning production. 

Originally we had tickets much earlier in the season, but had to move them because of a family situation. I am very grateful we were able to attend. It was well worth the wait. Days later, long after the show ended we are still talking about it. 

This was another absolutely wonderful production from the cast, crew and artistic team at the Stratford Festival. The show was extended twice that I am aware of well into the fall. 

Note: Photos by David Hou/Stratford Festival, or my own.

Anne of Green Gables Stratford 2025 A Review 1

Anne of Green Gables Stratford 2025 A Review 2

Anne of Green Gables Stratford 2025 A Review 3

Anne of Green Gables Stratford 2025 A Review 4

Anne of Green Gables Stratford 2025 A Review 5

Anne of Green Gables Stratford 2025 A Review 6

Anne of Green Gables Stratford 2025 A Review 7

Anne of Green Gables Stratford 2025 A Review 8

Reviews of Other Stratford Productions:
Richard III – 2022
Hamlet – 2022
The Miser – 2022
King Lear – 2023
Grand Magic – 2023
Cymbeline – 2024
Twelfth Night – 2024
…

Reviews of Shakespeare Movies:
Cymbeline – 2014

Related Posts:




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Thursday, 11 December 2025

Set Aside Every Fear: 30 Days with Catherine of Siena - John Kirvan - Great Spiritual Teachers Series

Set Aside Every Fear:
30 Days with Catherine of Siena
Great Spiritual Teachers
John Kirvan (editor)
ISBN 9781594719752
eISBN 9781594719769
ASIN B082FW2Z8Z

Set Aside Every Fear: 30 Days with Catherine of Siena - John Kirvan - Great Spiritual Teachers Series Rebranded

This is the twelfth volume in the Great Spiritual Teachers series I have read. It is a an older title in the series, it was originally released in 1997, and rebranded in 2000’s, the physical edition was rebranded again in 2024 or 2025 rebranding’s, but not the eBook yet. Over a year ago I read my first book in the series, it was Born to Do This: 30 Days with Joan of Arc by Jaymie Stuart Wolfe, and loved it and the concept of the series. I have read one almost every month since that first one, and if I can track down all the out of print, will do so until I finish all 24 released to date in the series.

The description of this volume states:

“Set Aside Every Fear is a simple, thirty-day devotional based on the classic spirituality of St. Catherine of Siena, who was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970. In only a few minutes each day, this book offers you a glimpse of St. Catherine's passion for living steeped in the intimate connection between love of God and service to others, which has inspired people of faith for more than six centuries.

Originally published in 1997 and now back in print, Set Aside Every Fear is the perfect prayer companion for busy people who want to root their spiritual practice in the solid ground of St. Catherine of Siena's timeless--and timely--teachings on divine and human relationships. Catherine brought together two frequently unconnected charisms--mysticism and active ministry--and embodied both throughout her life. Her intimacy with God through prayer enabled her to minister to the poor and sick more deeply and to boldly speak truth to Church authorities. When the papacy fled Rome for Avignon because of political conflict, Catherine tirelessly encouraged the popes to return to Rome, and was ultimately successful.

Set Aside Every Fear offers prayers in the voice of God and responses in the voice of humanity based on Catherine's own words, which encourage you in your own practice of dialogue with God. As you reflect on the mystery of divine love, Catherine shares her own relationship with God in a way that challenges you to place your trust in God and abandon your worries as you follow him.

All the titles in the 30 Days with a Great Spiritual Teacher series contain a brief morning meditation, a simple mantra to use throughout the day, and a night prayer to focus your thoughts as the day ends. John Kirvan is the series editor.”

About the series we are informed:

“Each book in the Great Spiritual Teachers series provides a month of daily readings from one of Christianity's most beloved spiritual guides. For each day there is a brief and accessible morning meditation drawn from the mystic's writings, a simple mantra for use throughout the day, and a night prayer to focus one's thoughts as the day ends. These easy-to-use books are the perfect prayer companion for busy people who want to root their spiritual practice in the solid ground of these great spiritual teachers.”

I believe there are 16 volumes in this series currently in print. There are also a number that are currently out of print, The oldest I have seen are from the mid 90’s and it looks like they went through a rebranding and format change in the mid 00’s, and they have undergone yet another rebranding in the 2020’s including some new titles available in the series. I must admit I do not recall running across this series prior to that first volume on Joan. I have however added all of them to my ‘to be read list’. I love the most recent rebranding, and hope Ave Maria completes the rebranding across all volumes, and brings back into print some of the volumes currently not available; specifically the volumes on John of the Cross, Evelyn Underhill, Mother Theresa and others. This specific volume was released in 1995, making it one of the oldest in the series. 

The sections in this volume are:

Timeline
Catherine Of Siena
How To Pray This Book
Thirty Days With Catherine Of Siena
One Final Word

This volume begins with this quote from Catherine:

“With God as your companion
you will
live in the light of faith,
with hope and fortitude,
with true patience and perseverance,
all the days of your life.
You will never be alone,
never fear anyone or anything,
for you will find your security in God.”

While reading this I several a few passages, some of them are:

“Here, we will focus on the image of the river and the bridge—the river that most of us dispiritedly slog through, and the bridge built over it for our safe passage. And we have chosen one of several great themes, perhaps the most central that gave substance to her insights and her career as a world figure—the irreducible connection between love of God and service of humanity.”

“The purpose of this book is to open a gate for you, to make accessible the spiritual insight and wisdom of one of history’s most extraordinary women, Catherine of Siena. This is not a book for mere reading. It invites you to meditate and pray its words on a daily basis over a period of thirty days and in a special way to enter into prayer through the unique doorway of Catherine’s visionary experiences, her dialogue with “Sweet Truth.” It is a handbook for a special kind of spiritual journey.”

“You will never fear anyone or anything, for you will find your security in me.”

“I loved you before you existed, and knowing this you can place your trust in my love and set aside every fear. Enjoy my love, live in me and take from me the light of my wisdom.”

“The only way to taste my truth and to walk in my brilliant light is by means of humble and constant prayer, that is rooted in a knowledge of yourself and of me.”

“You have loved me even before I existed, and knowing this, I can place my trust in your love and set aside every fear. Amen.”

“You can in no way repay me for the love I have lavished on you, except by taking the path I have given you, serving me by serving your neighbor.”

“But be clear about this: in order for you to have life, it is not enough that I have built this bridge, You must walk across it.”

“You have loved me even before I existed, and knowing this, I can place my trust in your love and set aside every fear. Amen.”

“If you keep in mind my mercy, you will not be mean-spirited with yourself or with your neighbor. On the contrary, you will be generous in your compassion, nourishing your neighbor with all that you have, all that I have given you.”

“The soul naturally relishes goodness though it is also easily blinded by self-love, and readily fails to discern what is truly good and valuable to both soul and body.”

“This book is no more than a gateway—a gateway to the spiritual experience and wisdom of a specific teacher that opens on your own spiritual path. It is an opportunity to join the dialogue between Catherine and God.”

Each day follows the same format with three main sections:

AS YOUR DAY BEGINS: “As the day begins set aside a quiet moment in a quiet place to do the reading provided for the day

The passages are short; they never run more than a couple of hundred words. They have been carefully selected, though, to give a spiritual focus, a spiritual center to your whole day. They are designed to remind you, as another day begins, of your own existence at a spiritual level. They are meant to put you in the presence of the spiritual master who is your companion and teacher on this journey. This is especially true of this journey with Catherine of Siena. The readings are her report of God’s words to her, God’s side of the dialogue. And since the purpose of the passage is to remind you that at every moment during you are in the presence of a God who invites you continually, but quietly, to live in and through him, what better source than the words of God himself?”

ALL THROUGH YOUR DAY: “Immediately following the day’s reading you will find a single sentence, a meditation in the form of a mantra, a phrase meant as a companion for your spirit as it moves through a busy day. Write it down on a 3" x 5" card or on the appropriate page of your daybook. Look at it as often as you can. Repeat it quietly to yourself, and go on your way.

It is not meant to stop you in your tracks or to distract you from responsibilities but simply, gently, to remind you of the presence of God and your desire to respond to this presence.”

AS YOUR DAY IS ENDING: “This is a time for letting go of the day, for entering a world of imaginative prayer … This exercise is not meant to last more than a few minutes. End it when you are comfortable doing so. It has two parts. The first, in keeping with Catherine’s model, is a personal response to the words spoken by God in the day’s reading. Just as God has spoken to you, so you speak to God. Second, you are invited to turn to the familiarity of a prayer based on Catherine’s own words. It is an act of trust and confidence, an entryway into peaceful sleep, a simple evening prayer that gathers together the spiritual character of the day that is now ending as it began—in the presence of God.

It is a time for summary and closure.”

A sample day is:


“DAY 13
 My Day Begins 
God Speaks …

There are two ways,
and both are hard to travel.
There is the way of the river,
but there is also the way of the bridge
that I have built to cross that river.
How strange it is
that so many
still prefer to walk through the water,
even though I have built a bridge for them,
a bridge that offers delight,
where all that is bitter becomes sweet,
and every burden light.
Those who cross the waters of life
by taking the way of the bridge
see light,
even though
they are still in the darkness of their body.
Though mortal,
they taste immortality,
though weary,
they receive the refreshment they need
when they need it,
in my name.
There are no words adequate
to describe
the delight experienced by those
who choose the way of the bridge.
While still in this life
they taste and participate
in that good
which has been prepared for them
in the next.
You would be a fool, indeed,
to reject such a great good
and choose instead
to walk by the lower road
with its great toil,
and without refreshment or advantage.

All Through The Day

There are always two roads …

My Day Is Ending
I Respond …

Be my companion
through the darkness of this night.

How strange it is
that despite the trust I profess,
I still so often
prefer to take the harder path,
battling dangerous currents,
risking the shoals
rather than crossing
by the bridge you have made for me.

Point out the bridge to me again.
Let me experience light
in the darkness of my days,
a taste of immortality,
a moment of refreshment
in your presence.

You have loved me
even before I existed,
and knowing this,
I can place my trust
in your love
and set aside every fear.
Amen.”

I hope those quotes and the sample days give you a feel for this excellent volume. This volume does not have the section Night Prayer to end the day that some have. But the My Day is Ending is mostly a prayer and as can be seen from the times I highlighted and shared them above. 

I have now read 12 volumes in this series, and currently working on a thirteenth, and I can state this is another great offering in the series. I find that some speak to me more than others. With one I did not highlight as much as in previous volumes, nor even as extensive highlights. But I still greatly enjoyed it. I can state I benefited from the month with each person being profiled. And if I went back and did a volume again at a different point or season in life I might interact with it differently. I already plan to circle back to both this volume and the volume on Joan and reread them once I have completed the series, or at least those I can track down.

This was one another of the volumes I connected with, this one more so the My Day Begins sections. This is a good read, it is one I really enjoyed reading. I can easily recommend this volume and the series as a whole, and I look forward to reading others in the series. If you have not given any in this series a try this would be an excellent starting point or whichever one seems to call to you.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Great Spiritual Teachers Series from Ave Maria Press

Set Aside Every Fear: 30 Days with Catherine of Siena - John Kirvan - Great Spiritual Teachers Series Older Cover

Books in the Great Spiritual Teachers Series:
Abide in love: the Gospel spirituality of John the Evangelist – John Kirvan 
Fear Not the Night - John of the Cross and John Kirvan 
God Awaits You Based on the Classic Spirituality of Meister - Richard Chilson 
Grace Through Simplicity - Evelyn Underhill and John Kirvan 
Living in the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence and John Kirvan 
Love Without Measure - Mother Teresa and John Kirvan 
Rejoice in the Lord - Augustine of Hippo and Trenton Mattingly  
That you may have life: let the mystics be your guide for Lent - John Kirvan 
True Serenity - Thomas a Kempis and John Kirvan 
We Are Beloved - Thea Bowman and Karianna Frey MS 
Where Only Love Can Go - The Cloud of Unknowing and John Kirvan  

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Wednesday, 10 December 2025

Sermon Sunday November 2nd 2025 All Souls Day Father Jeff Bergsma

Sermon Sunday November 2nd 2025 All Souls Day 
Father Jeff Bergsma


First Reading: Wisdom 3:1-9.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23.
Second Reading:  Romans 5:5-11 or Romans 6:3-9.
Verse Before the Gospel: Matthew 4: 4b.
Gospel: John 6:37-40.

A sculpture of souls in purgatory at the back of the church. 

(Note: This sermon really struck me. It was an excellent sermon. It is posted here with permission.)

Yesterday we celebrated All Saints Day. Those were for the saints that are in heaven. Today we celebrate all souls.

And All Souls Day is for those saints, or those who have died, who are in purgatory, who have not yet made the journey to heaven. And it's a day we come to, yes, as we know, we mourn for the dead. And we also know that when we celebrate funeral masses, it's mourning for the dead as well.

So there is that part of mourning, where we mourn for their loved ones that have gone before us, but there's also something else that we do on All Souls Day and during funerals. It's not just mourning, but rather All Souls Day and funerals are about hope. It's about hope that we have in Jesus Christ.

It is a day, especially today, All Souls Day, where we remember those who we are mourning for. We remember those who had influence in our lives that have gone before us, and we help and support those who mourn for the death of a loved one. That is what we do at funerals.

That is what we do at All Souls Day, is we mourn. We are there for each other and to help each other. But there's more to that, as I said.

Hope. This feast is about hope. It is about the hope we have in the promises of Jesus Christ.

It is about the hope we have in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Paschal Mystery, that our hope is that Jesus died for us so we may be with him in heaven. This is what this day is about. It is about the victory of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

His victory over death. That death is not the last word, that life is. And this is what we celebrate on All Souls Day, and this is what we celebrate at funerals.

Yes, at funerals, yes, we mourn for the dead, there's no doubt about that. But if we ever really noticed what the funeral liturgy is about, it's about hope. It's about the resurrection of the dead.

It's about understanding that life is changed, not ended. That when someone dies, life is changed, not ended. And this is that hope we have in the promises of Jesus Christ.

The hope we have as Christians, as Catholics, is that Jesus' victory over sin and death has given us the gift of heaven. And that is the great hope we have in the gift of heaven. So as I said, we pray today for those souls in purgatory that they may finish their journey to be with God in heaven.

And that would this is what prayer is about. As we talked a little about, the Mass is the greatest prayer we have as Christians, as Catholics. And we pray for the dead, not only in the Eucharistic prayer, but we pray for the dead in the prayers of the faithful.

We pray that those who've gone before us may be ready to see the face of God. Those souls in purgatory who are waiting to be with God in heaven. And purgatory is an interesting thing, right? It's an interesting thing to try and explain.

So what is purgatory? This is how I usually explain purgatory to students and that. Who here knows what summer school is? Why do you go to summer school? You go to summer school either because you failed, or you go to summer school because you've passed, but you need your grades to get up. So you need higher grades.

This is purgatory. You haven't failed. You haven't failed, but you haven't loved.

We haven't loved perfectly. So like summer school to get our grades up, what happens in purgatory, we remove all those things that stop us from loving each other perfectly, from loving God perfectly. All those things are removed so we can be with God in heaven.

And the second way I explain that only as with summer school is, how many here have gone to the doctor's office? What's the first thing you do when you go to the doctor's office? You go to the reception and say, I'm here. And then you go get to sit down. For how long? Who knows? But you will see the doctor that day.

This is purgatory. You have checked in. We'll use St. Peter at the gates.

Why not? And he goes, okay, just hold on a sec. We will be with God in heaven. We just need to wait to be purified.

And this is what purgatory is. Learning to love perfectly, taking away those things that stopped us from loving perfectly. We will be able to see God.

We'll get into heaven. We just need to wait a little bit. And it's through ancient times that's been prayers for the deceased.

Where do we as Christian Catholics, where do we get this notion of purgatory? We get it from the Old Testament, from the second book of Maccabees chapter 12 44 to 46. For if we were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that was laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought.

Therefore he made atonement for the dead so that they may be delivered from their sin. This is why we pray for the deceased. This is where our hope lies.

In praying for the deceased so they may be with God in heaven. Some of you may have heard of Dante and the Divine Comedy. And the Divine Comedy is the Aferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.

What Dante says about Purgatorio, he meets one of his friends or better yet frenemies. They were good at doing that in the Middle Ages. They would put their frenemies or enemies in interesting places.

If you ever go to Sistine Chapel, there's a couple of cardinals that Michelangelo put in hell. But what Dante was saying is he met his frenemy and he was surprised that he was progressing so quickly through purgatory to be with God in heaven. So he asked his friend, how are you progressing so much in this? And he just said, I think it's my wife praying for me to get me to heaven.

Now, the Divine Comedy is not scripture. It is not this is how it happens. But in many ways this is how it happens.

It is through our prayers for the deceased, through our hope in the promise of Jesus Christ that all those who have died may be with God in heaven. That is why we pray. Yes, we mourn.

But we mourn with hope. We mourn with trust. And that what Jesus Christ did in his mission to die for us so we may have life in heaven, that is what we're celebrating today.

We are celebrating that hope, that certainty. But those who have done their best to live in the light of the gospel, live out their faith in life, may be with God in heaven. They may need a little bit of our prayers to get through.

I know I'm going to need a lot of your prayers when I get the purgatory. But as we help each other, that is community. That is the community of saints, if you will.

That is the community of our faith. So we trust that Jesus is the atonement for our sins. And Jesus is.

It is through Jesus' atonement by dying on the cross that we have life with God in heaven. It is through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection through the Paschal mystery that we have the certainty of the promise of heaven. And that, as I said, life is changed not ended.

Our bonds with those who have deceased have changed not ended. They've entered a new version, if you will, a new way. For us, it's praying for them to be with God in heaven.

And God willing, there with God in heaven, they pray for us here on earth to help us to say yes to the hope that we have in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That indeed, death is not the end, but the beginning of new life. That indeed, through Jesus' death on the cross, death has been conquered and life for us with God in heaven has been given to us because of the love of God.

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Tuesday, 9 December 2025

The Wait - F.C. Ribeiro

The Wait
F.C. Ribeiro
ISBN 9798898354572
eISBN 9798898354589
ASIN B0FY41SPXF

The Wait - F.C. Ribeiro

This was a very interesting story. There were a couple of twists that took me by surprise, but I had figured a bunch of it out. As a debut novel it is very impressive. It does a great job of blending faith, the story and opening our eyes to see more. 

The description of this story states:

“There is only one way out, and it's hopelessly locked. How deep would you be willing to dig for the key?

Two strangers meet in a curious waiting room, with only themselves and a goldfish named Jonah for company. As they get to know each other, they discover that the room's only door won't open. They must work together to unearth an explanation before it's too late. One man, who's lost his faith, must find it again. The other will have to lean on his own like never before. It's a high-stakes spiritual journey, and there's only one way to the other side.”

About the author we are informed:

“F. C. Ribeiro is a devout Catholic, writer, and part-time woodworker. He lives in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley, where he roots for the Dodgers with his wife Michelle and a border collie named Daisy. This is his first novel.”

Stuck in a waiting room with goldfish named Jonah; Will and Pete begin a conversation. They soon discover there are a lot of similarities between their lives. Their likes, teams they cheer for, even baseball games they have attended. They also soon realize that the room is no ordinary waiting room. The door seems to have seamlessly sealed in the wall. It is nondescript, other than couches and the fish tank. After a brief period of panic and trying to find a way out of the room they settle down into a theological discussion.  And soon things really shake up.

Slight spoiler: While reading this I kept thinking about the book Between Heaven Hell by Peter Kreeft. A volume I read many, many year ago. The story moves at a good pace, the plot is interesting and the characters excellently written. For a debut novel it is an impressive offering. The one think I found off was footnotes at the end of chapters usually in reference to films or songs mentioned in the chapter. 

This was a very intriguing read. And it is well written. As a Catholic it was great reading it over All Saints day and All Souls Day. The author bio states that Ribeiro is Catholic, but I believe any Catholic or Christian could benefit from reading this volume.  I can easily recommend it and would give the next offering from Ribeiro a try! 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!

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