Celebrating the Communion of Saints

Greetings,

The month of November includes many feasts important to our Benedictine community; however, it begins with two days sacred to the whole Church.  The Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed are days of celebrating all of our beloved in the Communion of Saints.  We honor the saints great and small and tell stories of our loved ones who have died.

We invite you to join our prayer through these images and antiphons from our Divine Office and Eucharistic celebrations:

"Let us keep festival in honor of all the saints giving God
the glory for the grace bestowed on humankind."
~ Vespers Call to Prayer

"Hallelujah! With my whole heart I praise the Lord among the just.
Great are God's works, a delight to explore.
In splendor, in majesty, God's justice will stand." ~ Psalm 111

"Imitate God, walk in his love, just as Christ loves us."
~ Lauds Antiphon

Reliquary and Relics in veneration (left to right):

* Saints Maur, Benedict, and Placid

* Saints Alexi, Herman, Benedict, Agatha, and Severanta

* Saints Seodati and Amandi 

* Saint Grucis

* Saints Gertrude, Scholastica, and Boniface

* Saint Benedict

* Saints Donald, Ursini, and Victoria

"...They have come out of the great tribulation and
have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.
They need fear no peril or danger
for the Lamb will shepherd them..."

~ Lauds Responsory

* Saints Gertrude, Scholastica, and Boniface

* Saint Benedict

* Saints Donald, Ursini, and Victoria

"Give glory as the name of God deserves;
bring gifts into the courts of the Most High.
Adore God in the splendor of holiness.
Earth, tremble before the Holy Presence!"
~ Psalm 96

* Saint Grata

Our relic of Saint Benedict was carried
during the procession into Chapel for Mass.

"Let me peak your praise, O Lord, let all peoples bless
your holy name forever, for ages unending." ~ Psalm 145

Reliquary and Relics in veneration (left to right):

* Saints Speciosa, Fortunata, Nicolas, and Theodore

* Saints Columban, Victoria, Ursula, Crescenta, Desidii, and Gereon

"I will give you glory, O God my king, I will bless your name forever.
I will bless you day after day and praise your name forever.
You are great, Lord, highly to be praised, your greatness
cannot be measured." ~ Psalm 145

"For as we advance in the religious life and in faith, 

our hearts expand and we run the way of God's commandments 

with unspeakable sweetness of love. 

Thus, never departing from His school, 

but persevering in the monastery according to His teaching until death, 

we may by patience share in the suffering of Christ 

and deserve to have a share also in His kingdom" 

(Rule of Benedict, Prologue: 49-50).

"From the earth you formed me, with flesh you clothed me;
Christ my Redeemer, raise me up again at the last day."
~ Lauds Antiphon

Blessings,