​Resurrection  of  the  Lord  Parish

​​​​ Solemnity of All Saints

Treasures From Our Tradition

(Diocesan Publication)

Today we celebrate the saints who live in glory, and the vast number of people who have gone before us in the Christian life as “works in progress.”   Reading any saint’s biography, you quickly become aware that they were persons singularly aware of their faults and sins, their human propensity to miss the mark. Penance is a recurring theme in their lives, and many found a “confessor” who coached them in the spiritual life.

Today, a new form of penance can coach us in our journey, because the setting is an assembly of the faithful.  In this form, there is time given for people who wish to confess and be absolved to meet privately with a priest for a few moments.  Before the community is dismissed, everyone joins in an act of praise for God’s mercy, usually by singing a hymn together.  The individual part is not compulsory, and you can certainly participate fully and fruitfully without the individual confession. The joy of this liturgy is itself an impetus to change and to open up more fully to this wonderful gift of our faith.  You have already been forgiven, of course.  That was accomplished for you on the cross.  It is the Christian task to open ourselves up, as did the saints, to the reality of that gift.

— Rev. James Field 

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