THE CHURCH SUFFERING November 2, 2025
This Sunday day is the commemoration of All Souls in Purgatory, those whom we call the “Church suffering”, and begins what is virtually a whole month of prayer for the Faithful Departed. It is worth reflecting that the month of November opens with the magnificent feast of All Saints which looks forward to the end of all things, and then we move back a stage, as it were, to consider the state of Purgatory which is the preparation many souls make before entering that final state of heaven.
Why do we spend only one day on celebrating the eternal glory and the rest of the month on the preceding stage of suffering? We do this simply in order to remind us that, while the Saints do not need our prayers (on the contrary, we need theirs), the souls in Purgatory do need our prayers. So we set ourselves the important charitable task of praying for the souls. ~ Fr. Paul Dobson.
Red Wednesday – November 19
Show support and wear red on Red Wednesday.
Red Wednesday is an event aimed at highlighting the persecution and injustice suffered by Christians, while promoting respect and tolerance between people of different religions. We want people to take a stand for their faith, and more broadly, for religious freedom.
Here are some excerpts from the October 27, 2025 Message from Cardinal Leo relating to Red Wednesday:
This initiative illuminates churches and landmarks in red as a symbol of the blood shed by martyrs. In a world marked by division and strife, Red Wednesday serves as a reminder that we are pilgrims together, trusting in God’s promise of renewal and peace, even amid trials!
The scale of Christian persecution today is staggering and calls for our urgent attention and fervent prayer. According to the most recent report from Aid to the Church in Need, grave violations of religious freedom occurred in 62 countries affecting nearly 5.4 billion people, or 64.7% of the world’s population. An additional 24 countries are “under observation” due to rising intolerance, extremism, or state interference, potentially impacting 750 million people world-wide. In various regions of Africa, Asia and South America, believers face imprisonment, forced displacement, church burnings, and even death. The report indicates that religious persecution contributed to over 123 million people being forcibly displaced, including 73.5 million internally displaced persons. These sobering realities underscore the threat to the faith in hostile environments, yet they also inspire us to hope, for as pilgrims of hope, we know that Christ’s resurrection triumphs over every form of darkness and injustice.
