November is the final month of the Church year. As such, the Church turns its reflections to the so-called Last Things—Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. 
    
This Saturday, Nov. 1, is the Solemnity of All Saints, when we honor all of those who have been officially declared to be saints and those anonymous saints who have run the race and now wear the crown of victory. They reveal to us the glory that we will experience when we are with them in the Kingdom of God.
    
Sunday, Nov. 2, is the Feast of All Souls, when we pray for all who have died, especially those who have not yet completed their final period of purification and
have not yet entered into the perfect happiness of being face to face with God in heaven. Those we have traditionally called the Poor Souls have died, forgiven for their sins, but their souls have not been purified of attachment to sin. That final purification, which we call Purgatory, is a state of spiritual healing, when they are set free from all attachment to sin.
    
The Mass on Saturday at 12:05 pm will be for the Solemnity of All Saints. Because the Solemnity falls on a Saturday, it is celebrated as a Holy Day, but the obligation to attend Mass is dropped. 
    
The Masses on Sunday, Nov. 2, will be for the Feast of All Souls.