I must admit that I’ve never been tempted to write a bulletin article about dental hygiene. This year, however, I’m reminded of a house where a frightful dentist lived who gave away toothbrushes and floss to any trick-or-treaters who dared to ring his doorbell. I can’t say my friends and I visited that house more than once, but our memory (and fright) lingers still.
This Feast Day urges us to ponder the faces and smiles of the Saints, the Blessed—or happy—ones. It gives me delight to think that I recently came to resemble them in a new way as my tooth was fitted for my first crown! Now that I too wear a crown, I feel reassured to smile with new gusto and gratitude for the gift of faith, hope and love. Perhaps there is a place for me being prepared among the triumphant multitude of heaven.
Speaking of saintly teeth, during our pilgrimage in Italy this past spring, our group had opportunity to visit and venerate one of the teeth (root and all) of St. Benedict in his hometown of Norcia. A dental hygienist with us was delighted to identify which tooth it was and confirm its good condition! Additionally, the principal relic presented at Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s Mass of Beatification was his lower jaw complete with its smiling teeth. A bit macabre I know, but a reminder that the saints truly point us to joy even in death!
The saints didn’t necessarily enjoy brushing or flossing their teeth, but they knew that the radiance of their smile was one of the real ways they could reveal God’s love as the source of their joy!
While there is no obligation to attend Mass for All Souls Day (this Monday, Nov 2nd), it is a fitting day to come to Mass and pray for our beloved dead. Each day of the Octave, from November 1 to November 8, one can earn a Plenary Indulgence for the souls in Purgatory by visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead. According to the Code of Canon Law No. 992, “An indulgence is the remission before God of temporal punishment for sins whose guilt is already forgiven, which a properly disposed member of the Christian faithful gains under certain and defined conditions by the assistance of the Church which as minister of redemption dispenses and applies authoritatively the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.” The usual plenary indulgence conditions apply: receiving Holy Communion, going to Confession within eight days before or after, and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, all while detached from sin. Our focus on praying for the faithful departed and the souls in Purgatory can laudably be sustained throughout all of November.
This past week we wrapped up our four week Discovering Christ series which included a retreat last Sunday on the Holy Spirit— averaging over 110 participants per session. It was a wonderful encouragement to see such openness and eagerness to come together to learn and grow. Special thanks to Grant O’Neil, Madeline Thank and everyone who helped organize, serve and offer hospitality to so many. We look forward to maintaining momentum as our systematic study of the Faith, Discovering Catholicism, kicks off on Sunday morning, November 8 at 11am. Adults interested in going deeper, exploring the teachings of the Church or preparing to receive Sacraments at the Easter Vigil are encouraged to join! Contact Grant at Grant@ourholycross.org or reach out to one of us priests if we can help you on the way.
--Fr. Howe