Devotions from October 18 to 24, 2021
John Paul II wrote in Veritatis Splendor: «People today need to turn once again toward Christ to receive from him the answer about what is good and what is evil. He is the Teacher, the Risen One who has life in himself and who is always present in his Church and in the world. He is the one who opens the book of Scripture to the faithful and, fully revealing the Father’s will, teaches the truth about moral action. […] When people put the questions of their conscience to the Church, when the faithful in the Church turn to the Bishops and Pastors, the Church’s response contains the voice of Jesus Christ, the voice of truth concerning good and evil. In the word proclaimed by the Church, the voice of God, who “alone is good” (Mt 19:17), who alone “is love” (1 Jn 4:8, 16), resounds in the depths of people. Through the anointing of the Spirit, this gentle and demanding word becomes light and life for people». Let us meditate on the words of Saint John Paul II, whom we celebrate on October 22. Let us reflect on his extraordinary example and on the great light that radiated from his holy face. Let us also look to the example of all the other saints whom we remember this week, so that each of our days may be a day of light!
MONDAY, OCTOBER 18
Saint Luke the Evangelist
A physician, evangelist, and collaborator of Saint Paul in his missionary work. He is the only one of the four evangelists not to have limited himself to recounting the life of Jesus (the Gospel): he also described the events of the early Church in another book of the New Testament: the “Acts of the Apostles.” He left us the longest Gospel, and the most refined from a linguistic point of view. In it, the account of Christ’s childhood is highly developed, and we find episodes reported only by him that give particular prominence to the figure of Mary. Luke highlights the universality of salvation and Christ’s special love for the poor and sinners; he makes observations reflecting his sensitivity toward the sick and suffering. Dante called him “the scribe of Christ’s gentleness,” because sweetness, joy, and love predominate in the pages of his Gospel. In the Acts, he outlines the ideal figure of the Church (which extends the presence of the risen Christ through time and space), persevering in the Apostles’ teaching, in the communion of charity, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
For further reflection:
• The Gospel of Luke
• “On Your Word” devotional booklet, September-October 2021
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19
Beginning of the novena to Saint Jude Thaddeus (ends on October 27)
The evangelist Luke presents Jude as Jude “of James,” meaning the brother of James, the other apostle and first bishop of Jerusalem. Matthew and Mark, on the other hand, call him Thaddeus, a nickname that in Aramaic means “broad-chested,” that is, magnanimous, merciful, kind, and generous. He is also called the “cousin of the Lord,” since he is said to have been the son of Mary of Clopas and Alphaeus, the brother of Joseph. The last of the Catholic epistles in the canon of the New Testament is attributed to him. He is a little-known and little-invoked saint, which is why graces seem to flow abundantly. God granted Saint Jude extraordinary powers, and it is especially in difficult cases that his help is experienced. Thousands of people invoke his intervention daily, and many prayers have been answered beyond all measure, even when the request seemed hopeless. Whatever the illness, poverty and misery, anguish of heart and soul, even despair, one can turn to this great Saint and ask for his powerful intercession.
For further reflection:
• Prayers to Saint Jude Thaddeus the Apostle
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22
Saint John Paul II
To remember the Polish Pontiff, canonized by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014, the Church chose the day on which his pontificate began, October 22, 1978, when he made his invitation to welcome Jesus into daily life resound: «Open wide the doors to Christ! Open to his saving power the borders of States, economic as well as political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization, and development. Do not be afraid! Christ knows “what is inside man.” He alone knows!». Regarding Saint John Paul II, we would first and foremost like to remember the example of his prayer, which always touched and edified people: he immersed himself in meeting God even amid the many responsibilities of his ministry. And then there is his witness in suffering: the Lord gradually stripped him of everything, but he always remained a “rock,” as Christ wanted him to be. His profound humility, rooted in intimate union with Christ, enabled him to continue guiding the Church and to give the world an even more eloquent message precisely when his physical strength was failing. In this way, he fulfilled in an extraordinary manner the vocation of every priest and bishop: to become one with that Jesus whom he receives and offers daily in the Church.
For further reflection:
• John Paul II. A Thought for Every Day
• John Paul II. Santo subito
• A Pope for a friend. The comic-book story of Saint John Paul II
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24
Beginning of the novena for the souls in Purgatory (ends on November 1)
Death does not sever the bonds we have with the souls of our loved ones. The living, the souls in Purgatory, and the saints in Heaven remain closely united like communicating vessels. This is a truth of faith that we proclaim in the Apostles’ Creed when we say: “I believe in the communion of saints.” It is important to accompany our deceased loved ones on their journey, since they can no longer do anything for themselves and await from us the charity of remembrance: this is what we do with the novena that begins today. Through it, the whole Church unites in imploring the Father to grant our deceased brothers and sisters a share in Jesus’ triumph over death. Let us ask for it through prayer, but above all - today, tomorrow, always… - through the consistency of our lives.
Prayer is an ever-effective means available to everyone, especially when we ask forgiveness and salvation for the souls of our loved ones. The most effective help is certainly the Holy Mass and then, among prayers, the Holy Rosary, so strongly recommended by Our Lady.
Although the novena asks us to give this gift to the souls in Purgatory, it also has a great gift in store for us: the opportunity to look at the mystery of death through the luminous lens of hope, that precious theological virtue which, in some way, enables us to see and savor even now what is invisible to the eyes. Indeed, a soul freed from Purgatory will be eternally grateful to whoever has helped it and, finally coming into the presence of the Most High, will repay us with its prayers, so that we too, together with it and all the saints, may come to contemplate Him who is peace, joy, and infinite love.
For further reflection:
• Prayers for the souls of the deceased in Purgatory
• Prayers in suffrage for the souls in Purgatory
“Do not be afraid! Open, indeed, fling wide the doors to Christ!” Let us repeat once again Saint John Paul II’s invitation to take courage, an invitation to venture out into the sea of life, even when the waters seem rough. Let us take our lives into our own hands, without hesitation. Let us truly feel like sentinels of the morning!
Have a good journey!
