Meditations taken from <a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/5cec74a9-6bca-435a-a77a-aeefdb23609a/Preparation%20for%20Death_St.%20Alphonsus%20Maria%20de%20L.pdf">PREPARATION FOR DEATH by St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori.</a> We will reflect on our own death and pray for a holy death, pray for the dead and celebrate the countless (named and unnamed) saints in Heaven.   The solemnity of All Saints was also known as All Hallows (hallow simply means ‘holy&#039;). Prior to the 1955 liturgical reforms, there was such a thing as Hallowtide, a kind of ‘triduum&#039; that began with All Hallows Eve (October 31st). While the Easter triduum revolves around the death and resurrection of Christ, this triduum was centered around the eternal destiny of our own souls. The vigil of All Hallows Eve was instituted by Pope Sixtus IV, who also turned it into an octave—a celebration lasting eight days, in AD 1484. It was the beginning of a liturgical celebration that turned people&#039;s minds towards the dead—not only to the saints in heaven but also to the suffering souls in purgatory.All Hallows also introduced a month of special prayers for the dead. The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, All Souls. The Church is composed of the faithful living upon the earth and those who have gone before us. The latter includes the saints in Heaven and the faithful souls being purified in Purgatory.  Just as on November 1st we honor those who are with God, on November 2nd Catholics celebrate a Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. Also known as All Souls&#039; Day, on this day we honor them for their fidelity in life, as well as pray for them since they are being purified before entering the All Holy Presence of God.

Novena For All Souls

In your hands, O Lord,
we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters.
In this life you embraced them with your tender love;
deliver them now from every evil
and bid them eternal rest.

The old order has passed away:
welcome them into paradise,
where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain,
but fullness of peace and joy
with your Son and the Holy Spirit
forever and ever. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon them
May their soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Advent reflections“Advent: the time to listen for footsteps – you can&#039;t hear footsteps when you&#039;re running yourself” (Bill McKibben). The footsteps we often hear at this time of year are the hustle and bustle of rushing round the shops to get everything we need: food, drink, presents, cards, decorations…and so the list goes on.But we should not confuse Advent with the month of December. By all means rush around and be busy in December; but don&#039;t let that be our celebration of Advent: let us devote time to Advent, the season of hushed expectation, because Advent is the only true way to reach that special date towards the end of the month of December.  “Advent is a continuous call to hope: it reminds us that God is present in history to lead it to its ultimate goal, to lead it to its fullness, which is the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ. God is present in the history of humanity, He is the “God-with-us”, God is not distant, he is always with us, to the extent that very often he knocks on the door to our heart” (Pope Francis).Let us use this season of preparation to respond to the Lord so that we are ready when he comes.“In a special way during these weeks, let us prepare the house of the heart with care, so that it is orderly and hospitable. In fact, keeping watch means keeping the heart ready. It is the attitude of the sentinel, who in the night is not tempted by weariness, does not fall asleep, but remains awake awaiting the coming light. The Lord is our light and it is good to dispose the heart to welcome him with prayer and to host him with charity” (Pope Francis).The ProgrammeTo guide us through the Advent season, to invite us to pause in silent expectation, reflections using the words of Pope Francis will be posted every Sunday and Wednesday in Advent, and then every day leading up to and including Christmas Day (22, 23, 24 and 25 December).Join us on our Advent journey.

Advent retreat through the words of Pope Francis

God of Love,
your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us.
He is a sign of your love.
Help us walk in that love during the weeks of Advent,
as we wait and prepare for his coming.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Saviour. 
Amen.


Let us pray together with Saint John Paul II for the triumph of the &#34;civilization of love&#34; as we prepare for the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children on January 22.

Novena for Life with Saint John Paul II

O Mary,
bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living, 
to you  we entrust the cause of life.
Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers 
of babies not allowed to be born, 
of the poor whose lives are made difficult, 
of men and women 
who are victims of brutal violence, 
of the elderly and the sick killed 
by indifference or out of misguided mercy. 
Grant that all who believe in your Son 
may proclaim the Gospel of life 
with honesty and love to the people of our time. 
Obtain for them the grace 
to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, 
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude 
throughout their lives 
and the courage to bear witness to it 
resolutely, in order to build, 
together with all people of good will, 
the civilization of truth and love, 
to the praise and glory of God, 
the Creator and lover of life.

Saint John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae

<h2>A Walk of Faith for Valentine&#039;s Day!</h2>Now is the time to experience the spirit of Valentine&#039;s Day, by confidently entrusting our desires to live a Christian marriage to St. Valentine, a great martyr and the patron saint of lovers.Be assured that we share your hopes and keep your intentions in our hearts every day!<h2>The Grace of Love: a Gift from God</h2><ul><li>Pray for yourself: pray that you meet someone in accordance with the Lord &#039;s heart.</li><li>Pray for yourself: entrust God with your desire to live a fruitful Christian marriage.</li><li>Pray for a single person you know who suffers from loneliness.</li><li>Pray for all those who desire to get married.</li><li>Pray that marriages be based on the « Rock of Faith » .</li><li>Pray for young people who are not looking to commit to the Sacrament of Marriage </li><li>Pray that the world regains a deep sense of commitment to sacraments.</li></ul>… other ideas? Share them with us!St. Valentine will certainly be happy to hear them and present them to the Lord!<h2>Commitment</h2>Commit yourself to offer your thanks to St. Valentine: if you feel that he answered your prayers, celebrate his Feast Day in a spirit of gratitude for his intercession on your behalf!<h2>Click Join to receive the prayers</h2><a href="https://hozana.org/en/intentions">Click here to leave your prayer intention.</a>

Meet Your Soulmate with the Novena to St. Valentine

Loving Father,
You know that the deepest desire of my heart is
to meet someone that I can share my life with.
I trust in Your loving plan for me and ask that I may soon meet
the person that you have prepared for me.
Through the power of Your Holy Spirit,
open my heart and mind so that I recognize my soulmate.
Remove any obstacles that are in the way of this happy encounter,
So that I might find a new sense of wholeness, joy and peace.
Give me the grace too, to know and accept, if you have another plan for my life.
I surrender my past, present and future into the tender heart of Your Son, Jesus,
full of confidence that You will hear and answer my prayer.
AMEN.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.
St Valentine, pray for me.