Saintly Souls — Sweet Tweets for 11/2/14

Since last week’s Sweet Tweets, I’ve been on the move. From Dallas, to Chicago, to Baltimore, to Morgan Hill in my home state of California. Each of those experiences deserves a blog post of its own. But today, mellowing out to my Matt Maher Pandora channel in front of a quiet fire in anticipation of attending Mass at my home parish, it all feels a million miles away. Watch for recaps of those adventures later in the week.

For now, on All Souls Day, I want to share a little experience I had yesterday. In giving my very first retreat on The Grace of Yes, I found myself facilitating small groups in a parish facility which contained the parish’s Dia De los Muertos altar. The Catholic Star ran a great article which explains the significance of this beautiful tradition:

“In the second Eucharistic prayer, it says remember, remember, remember. We’re always remembering,” Father Eugene said. “And, we say at Eucharist that remembering isn’t going back, but it’s right now; Christ is present now. So on the Día de los Muertos, when they put all those pictures up, their loved ones are present there. . . . When they gather in the cemetery, their loved ones are present there, too.”

Before our retreat began, one very special retreat attendee came and found me. She gently took my hand, led me to the altar and pointed at a photo of a beautiful young woman, her daughter. Honestly, it was all I could do to choke back my tears. I didn’t hear the story of how this beautiful soul had departed —  I only know that her death came far too soon. Without words to console her loved one, I could only stand and pray with her devoted mother for the repose of her soul. This daughter’s presence was tangible for us all day long. I acutely felt her mother’s grief, her love, her loss, and her hope for her daughter’s soul.

Today, we remember that precious young woman and all of those who have gone before us. Today in a special way, we are united in spirit with them. May their souls, and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Thank you to my friend John Clem, O.F.S. for this week’s Sweet Tweets:

• Papal Tweet: “May we help people to discover the joy of the Christian message: a message of love and mercy.” (Pope Francis Oct. 28th)
• And the 2014 Synod Oscar goes to … | (John Allen – Crux) ow.ly/DomEX
• English version of “Relatio Synodi” of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops released ow.ly/DBjpH
• Announcing the Grace of Yes Book Club – Jump In! | CatholicMom.com ow.ly/DoUVA
• 7 Things Every Protestant Should Know About Catholicism – Thirsting for Truth ow.ly/Dpjrq
• Video: Why the Devil is Pope Francis Talking about the Devil? (Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB – America Magazine) ow.ly/Dsh6m
• Survivor of Rwandan genocide, Immaculee Ilibagiza meets Pope Francis – (Rome Reports) ow.ly/DskHo
• Pope Francis: There are three types of Christians – (Rome Reports) ow.ly/DsloD
• The Saint of the Sock Drawer | (Fr. James Martin, SJ – America Magazine) ow.ly/DstXz
• News: Catholic Web Services granted 501c3 tax exempt status by IRS! Become a Supporter! ow.ly/DsFp8
• VIDEO: Father Jonathan Morris on Freedom in the Moral Life (Christopher Closeup) ow.ly/DsIsX
• John Henry Newman at the Synod on the Family | (Fr. Robert Barron – Word On Fire) ow.ly/DsVxG
• An undocumented immigrant’s dream deferred | The Washington Post ow.ly/DtaE2
• Dying man finds miracle in abandoned church – (WAVY TV 10) ow.ly/DtpPE
• NEW Website: Catholic Shrines in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia ow.ly/DtCro
• Cuba builds first new church in 55 years (USA Today) ow.ly/DtGhn
• What is the Meaning of the Cross So Loved by St. Francis? – Aleteia ow.ly/DtP5I
• On the Balance of Love and Correction, According to St. Gregory « Archdiocese of Washington ow.ly/DvDiQ
• The Official Catholic Bacon Blessing (The Catholic Gentleman) ow.ly/DvGjq
• Seeking an ecumenical pope – The Orientale Lumen Foundation (CNS) ow.ly/DvHpd
• 9 Ways to Restore All Things in Christ (Sam Guzman – Catholic Exchange) ow.ly/DvHz2
• Franciscan Monastery 1st Annual Video Contest – (Holy Land Franciscans) ow.ly/DvKG8
• Music strikes a chord in El Salvador – (CNS) ow.ly/DvL4Z
• The Silence of Friendship | (Br. Innocent Smith, OP – Word On Fire) ow.ly/DvLCq
• Syrian Christians, building cemeteries instead of schools :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) ow.ly/DvO4k
• Pope asks for prayers for Mexican students who were burned alive (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/DvQ5c
• Would You Baptize Aliens?: An Interview with Two Vatican Astronomers – Brandon Vogt ow.ly/Dw4H3
• Congressman Frank Wolf: An Appreciation – (George Weigel – Aleteia) ow.ly/DwEPn
• Pope Francis prays to end Ebola (CNS) ow.ly/Dx6Sf
• The Rome Experience – a cultural and spiritual pilgrimage for diocesan seminarians (Spirit Juice Studios) ow.ly/Dx85W
• God’s Beauty on Trans-Siberian railway: Seat 22 — Trans-Siberian Odyssey (Stanislas Giroux) ow.ly/Dxcr9
• God’s Beauty on America’s High Plains: Stormscapes 2 (Nicholas Wegner) ow.ly/DxfTn
• Elton John Tells Crowd of Stars and Donors: “Pope Francis is My Hero–Make Him a Saint Already!” | Showbiz411 ow.ly/DxrHY
• How Catholics Changed America: An Interview with Emily Stimpson | Word On Fire ow.ly/Dzb8F
• New lights in the Sistine Chapel allows visitors to see it like never before (Rome Reports) ow.ly/DzzGW
• Catholic Cuisine: Recipes for November ~ Month Dedicated to the Holy Souls ow.ly/DzQGb
• Video: Thomas Aquinas and the Argument from Motion | (Fr. Robert Barron – Word On Fire)ow.ly/DAYYL
• Vatican astronomer yawns at frenzy over Pope’s Big Bang words :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) ow.ly/DAZiZ
• The gifts of women en route to Rome | (Jennifer Mertens – National Catholic Reporter) ow.ly/DBhcg
• Ukraine’s family tragedy (CNS) ow.ly/DBfD3
• #NunTrouble (It’s All About That Bus) – Nuns on the Bus encouraging participation in election (Network Lobby) ow.ly/DBdH5
• Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (USCCB) ow.ly/DBeb5
• The Mighty Oak (Quercus spp.), A Garden Catechism (Margaret Realy, Obl. OSB – Patheos) ow.ly/DCzyG
• What the Media Got Wrong about Pope Francis and Evolution | Strange Notions ow.ly/DCGac
• Official says Catholic cemeteries have ‘huge opportunity to evangelize’ (CNS) ow.ly/DCGP0
• Reminder: Turn your clocks back one hour on Saturday Night. ow.ly/i/7pYl2
• Court Grants Injunction to Ave Maria University in HHS Mandate Case – Aleteia ow.ly/DCJ7s
• Pope at Angelus: Pray for the world’s forgotten souls (News.va) ow.ly/DGGgp
• The lively history of the Vatican Teutonic cemetery – CNA Blog ow.ly/DGaRD
• Catholic Techie John Clem |CatholicMom.com ow.ly/DGFSK
• ‘Waking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago” gets theatrical release (Sister Rose Pacatte – Patheos) ow.ly/DGaGM
• National Vocation Awareness Week (November 2-8, 2014) – USCCB ow.ly/DG8zJ

Halloween – All Saints Feast Day – All Souls Feast Day

• It’s Time for Catholics to Embrace Halloween | Word On Fire ow.ly/DolVE
• 5 Saints To Help You Celebrate Halloween – Busted Halo ow.ly/DwAKs
• Dracula vs. the Catholic Eucharist (Dr. Taylor Marshall) ow.ly/DxzVB
• Want Something Creepy? Step Inside Europe’s “Bone Churches” | ChurchPOP ow.ly/DsXLD
• March of Saints aims to catechize Filipino children about heaven :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) ow.ly/DBgaY
• All Souls’ Day and the Mystery of Immortality | (Fr. Robert Barron – Word On Fire) ow.ly/Dwyew
• It’s Halloween: Be unafraid. Be very unafraid. (Sr. Anne Flanagan, DSP) ow.ly/DCV8r
• Norman Rockwell of saint’s painters: John Nava’s stunning vision in Los Angeles (Deacon Greg Kandra – Patheos) ow.ly/DFjpb
• Reflections on All Souls’ Day – oldest active parish in America (CNS) ow.ly/DE5Yl
• All Souls Day and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Diana von Glahn – Patheos) ow.ly/DGKwj
• “St. Vincent”: A Treat for All Saints’ Day – Aleteia ow.ly/DGGlj
• 99 and Half Won’t Do! A Homily for All Souls Day | (Monsignor Charles Pope) ow.ly/DG9Tgow.ly/i/7q

John Clem, O.F.S is the Director and Media Minister at Catholic Web Services (http://catholicws.com/). John is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order, and loves to share his talents in faith, technology, and journalism in service to the church.  John also writes a blog entitled Call To Holiness  (http://www.calltoholiness.us/). Follow John on Twitter at @Catholicwebs, on Facebook and at Google+.