Father Hathaway’s Column — October 29, 2023
REMEMBERING SAINTS & THE SOULS OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED
Three dates this week share a common theme: Remembering those who have gone before us.
Tuesday, October 31, the secular world celebrates Halloween, which originated with the Christian celebration of All Hallows’ Eve or the evening before All Saints’ Day. Today, secular Halloween celebrations unfortunately are devoid of that Christian connection. Perhaps we can help re-Christianize it by encouraging costumes depicting saints. Young children at our Basilica School of Saint Mary will do just that by dressing as their favorites saint for their annual All Saints parade this week. I’m always glad to see quite a few little Marys and Josephs marching in the procession!
Wednesday, November 1, is the Solemnity of All Saints, or All Saints’ Day, and is a Holy Day of 
Obligation. We will have five Masses on Wednesday— our regular weekday Masses at 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m. and 12:10 p.m., with additional Masses celebrated at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Reflecting on the saints in heaven, those known and those unknown, reminds us of our belief as Catholics in the Communion of Saints, professed as we recite the Creed at Mass. The Communion of Saints encompasses all members of the Church: The Church Triumphant (the deceased, or saints, who are in heaven), the Church Militant (the living, who are still pilgrims on their earthly journey) and the Church Suffering (the souls of the deceased who are being purified in Purgatory, awaiting entrance into heaven). The Communion of Saints unites all of us in one, holy, Catholic family.
Thursday, November 2, is All Souls’ Day, when we remember and pray for all those faithful departed who are in Purgatory. We will follow our regular weekday Mass schedule that day with Masses celebrated at 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. The month of November, especially All Souls’ Day, is a traditional time to visit the graves of loved ones.
We also begin our traditional All Souls’ Novena (nine days) of Masses on November 2. You can enroll your loved ones to be remembered at those Masses by entering their names on that day’s contribution envelopes – extra envelopes are available at the back of the Basilica. Or make your donation online via Faith Direct at https://membership.faithdirect.net/enroll/VA713. We also have a Book of Remembrance in the Sacred Heart transept to enroll the names of deceased loved ones.
The belief that we, the living, can intercede for the deceased was declared a truth of the Faith by the Second General Council of Lyons in 1274. The Second Vatican Council later stated: “….it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins.”
FEAST OF SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO
November 4, the Church honors Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop, cardinal and secretary of state (at the age of just 22!) for his uncle, Pope Pius IV. A founder of seminaries, he is the namesake of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary near Philadelphia where both Bishop Burbidge and I studied for the priesthood (Bishop later became rector of the seminary) and where two Basilica of Saint Mary parishioners – Alex Solsma and Aaron Zanca – are current students. May Saint Charles Borromeo pray for them as they prepare to serve our God and His Church.