A View From The Pew – November 2025
Beautiful Brailes
ILMODB
I think that November is the dreariest month of the year. The field walks are abandoned and the road to Winderton is trod with torch in hand and much needed woolly gloves hat and coat: The cloudy skies hide the stars and the moon gives little comfort on those chilly walks. For Saturday evening Mass at Brailes the portable lamps are put out and taken in dutifully, and this will be the norm for the next few months.
Very early on in the month All Souls Day is commemorated and it is the tradition in many parts of the world during this month to bless the graves of loved ones. Many churches have a remembrance book available for the month and Remembrance Day and services remain poignant reminders of the great loss and sacrifice that occurs in war and the great tragedy to humanity that any war brings.
In commemorating the faithful departed we pray for those holy souls in purgatory. Now I have never had a problem in believing in this. I am fully aware of my own faults, failings and sinfulness and I know that these areas of my life need to be rid (or purged) of before I can enjoy the eternal life of heaven. I see purgatory as a necessary purification; though I must admit the western concept of purgatory can be quite frightening; where we have the image of the purgatorial fires, no doubt inspired from the Bible and over zealous clergy!
I much prefer the Eastern image with the emphasise on the pain of being separated from God and the surrendering of all that is preventing us from having that full union with God: I liken it to having a welcome hot shower after a long and tiring walk!
And yet at Mass we emphasise our unworthiness and sinfulness by saying the I confess at the beginning, or before receiving communion, “Lord I am not worthy”. In praying the Creed, the Our Father and the Eucharistic Prayer we look and pray with “joyful hope” of Jesus’ second coming and the life of the world to come. And it is this sense of humility and t joyful hope, that we need to be aware of and embrace when asked to pray for the dead during this month.
So maybe November is not the dreariest month after all. In fact a much a much loved parishioner at Brailes thinks it is January! Whichever one of us is right I do hope that during the month of November you will remember with “joyful hope” your departed loved ones, our fallen heroes in war and all the faithful departed- and in the words of St Thomas More “Pray for me, and I shall for you and all your friends, that we may merrily meet in heaven”.
Fr David Tams