My Dear People, 

At this time, we remember and pray for the faithfully departed. It is true they cannot pray for themselves; however, our prayers can be efficacious and can make a difference for them. 

We will not know what difference our prayers and a Mass offered for them will make, but when we pray for the faithfully departed, we do know that it is very much appreciated.

When Augustine and Monica were returning to their native place in North Africa from Italy, Monica fell ill and she felt she would not survive. She told her son, who now had embraced the Chrisian faith, that it would not matter where her body was buried. However, the one thing that is of importance was that he remember her at the altar when he offered Mass. 

We cannot take material things with us when we leave this earth. We do, however, leave with our soul, and that makes a difference. Times like today make us ponder about our soul and where it will end up after our life on earth. Many things are written about the emotional levels of the individual, and how important they are. One thing that hardly ever seems to be mentioned is where the soul ends up after death. Many are not making any preparations for it! They think all will be fine, or it will be handled when the time comes.

            Let us reflect on what Jesus tells us in the Gospel. The Lord mentions in Luke 12:35-38 “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like the servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at the table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared this way, blessed are those servants.”

The Lord emphasizes the importance of being prepared and vigilant. Being vigilant means that one tries to stay prepared at all times! Since we all sin, the one who is vigilant will immediately find a way to go to confession and confess sins so that he will be absolved and continue to be in the state of grace. 

When Jesus speaks of the bridegroom coming, it has a special significance. Jesus is referring to Himself as the bridegroom. When the Apostles were told of this, they were not fasting. Jesus replied, when the bridegroom is taken from them then they will fast. Jesus knew that He was going to die; therefore afterwards, when they would be evangelizing, is when they would fast. 

Jesus refers to Himself as the bridegroom because we the people of God are the bride. And Jesus as the bridegroom offered His life and suffered and died for His bride in order to purify her, the Church (that is all of us). 

 After death, we will meet the bridegroom, which is Jesus Christ. No matter when it comes, if one is prepared because he was vigilant, tried to avoid sin, and tried to stay in the state of grace, when his time comes, he will be ready and prepared. He fulfills the expression where Jesus says that he will find the servant prepared and alert.  

We are not always perfect or vigilant, but this year, a year of Jubilee, we have the opportunity to fulfill the requirement of the Jubilee—that is go through the Holy Doors of the church designated as a special shrine during the Jubilee Year; say One Our Father, one Hail Mary and a Glory Be to the Holy Father; then commit to avoid all sins, even venial; and go to confession within seven days prior or after visiting the designated site. If we do this, we will have an opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence. The plenary indulgence affects us and the time we spend in purgatory. It is possible to eliminate the entire time in purgatory. In addition, you can do this for yourself or you may do this for someone who has already departed. In this one special way, we can pray for the faithful departed and the ones who were close to us. 

May the Lord give you grace to fulfill this Jubilee year the best possible way for your loved ones. 

May God bless you, in Christ, 

Fr. Vincent Clemente