CHANGING TIMES:
I could not but reflect on the dramatic change over the years in our approach to All Souls Day. This is not an adverse criticism, just an observation. Those of you of a certain vintage, like me, will recall the days when, on 2nd November, priests celebrated three Masses, often in quick succession because of the fast from midnight. In those days part of the ritual cleansing (the ablutions) at the end of Mass included the use of a little wine, but that was studiously avoided at the first two Masses, because this too would have broken the fast! As altar servers we were trained to cope with all this, and, as with today, it seemed that half-term always coincided with this time of the year so that we were free to offer our services. Furthermore, people would make multiple visits to the church to gain plenary indulgences for the release of souls in purgatory using the necessary prayers, including those for the Pope. Because only one soul could be released per visit, you would see people going in and out of the church over and over again! While I miss some of the devotion surrounding those days, I also recall how easily such customs could lead to scruples, including the anxiety that one had not tried hard enough to intercede for more souls crying out for help. Suffice it to say that I think our spirituality today is more balanced while, hopefully, continuing to trust in the mercy of God.
