It begins with a celebration of the saints, who continually intercede for us, and it is quickly followed with a mass and novena for the souls in purgatory, for whom we offer our petitions. There is an interesting link, then, between the church triumphant (saints), the church suffering (those in purgatory), and the church militant (those on earth). November, more than any other month, reminds us that no man is an island, living or dead.

As the author of Ecclesiastes writes, "If the one falls, the other will help the fallen one. But woe to the solitary person! If that one should fall, there is no other to help. So also, if two sleep together, they keep each other warm. How can one alone keep warm? Where one alone may be overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply cord is not easily broken." (Ecc 4:10-12)

This is an important lesson to pass onto our kids. In the family is where children learn and experience that they are not alone. Not only are they not alone, but they, as members of the body of Christ, play a crucial role in helping those who fall, who are cold, or who are alone.

It's also worth noting that the end of November marks the end of the liturgical year and the scripture readings take on a focus of the end times. With imagery of dancing skeletons in churches and haunting chants like the dies irae, is the church unnecessarily morbid? Or, maybe just "metal" before it was cool?

The answer comes, perhaps gradually, in December with the season of Advent, in which we await the coming of Christ, who brings light, the hope of the resurrection, and thus victory over death.  

"Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory?" (1 Cor15:55)

I encourage you to take part in the practices/devotions of praying for souls in purgatory (I, sadly, did not hear about them until much later in life). Please remind your children that though death is a reality, so is victory over death!