Why would anyone go to a cemetery?!
Call it odd, but my daughter, Philomena, has been fascinated with cemeteries for as long as I can remember.
Every time we pass a cemetery, she's got questions. My favorite of these exchanges went like this:
Mena: Are cemeteries real, or are they just for Halloween.
Me: They are real.
Mena: And people there are dead?
Me: Yes. We bury them so we can honor them and remember them.
Mena: WHY WOULD ANYONE GO TO A CEMETERY?
In her sweet little mind, she believed people were voluntarily walking into cemeteries and dying on the spot—not that they were brought there after they had passed. (And honestly, who would go there if that’s how it worked?!)
Since she had been asking to visit one for months, All Souls' Day felt like the perfect opportunity. She fidgeted through noon Mass, practically bouncing in her seat anticipating the trip. When I had to make a quick post office stop on the way, the delay nearly drove her crazy.
This girl took. her. time. She wanted to know hold old the people were who had passed, what their names were, and of course, she was particularly touched by any children or babies whose graves we visited. We prayed, we asked Mary to hold the babies, and we talked about Heaven.
If I'm being honest, I probably would have avoided visiting a cemetery on All Souls' Day if it weren't for Mena. It’s easy to let grief make those places feel heavy. But watching her approach the holy ground with such tenderness and curiosity transformed the experience for me. She reminded me that we don't go to mourn death; we go to honor life and remember the promise ahead.
"I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." John 11: 25-26
Marian Feasts and Titles for November
November 11 - Our Lady of the Armed Forces
This feast honors Mary as a protector for soldiers, veterans, and military families, asking her to keep them safe and bring them peace.
November 17 - Our Lady of Zion
This title remembers Mary as the bridge between the Old and New Testaments, as she was the Jewish daughter who gave birth to Jesus.
November 18 - Our Lady of Chiquinquira
Patroness of Colombia! A dirty, faded painting of Mary on a rough cloth miraculously restored itself to bright, beautiful colors in 1586.
November 21 - The Presentation of Our Lady
This feast celebrates the tradition of Mary's parents bringing her to the Temple as a young girl to dedicate her whole life to God.
November 24 - Our Lady of Montserrat
This title honors a famous "Black Madonna" statue in the mountains of Spain that millions of pilgrims—including Saint Ignatius of Loyola—have visited for centuries.
November 27 - Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
This day marks the 1830 apparition in Paris where Mary appeared to Saint Catherine Labouré and gave us the design for the Miraculous Medal.
November 28 - Our Lady of Kibeho
This feast remembers Mary’s apparitions in Rwanda during the 1980s, where she called herself the "Mother of the Word" and urged everyone to pray the Rosary for peace.
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
This coming Sunday, we'll hear the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. I love this depiction by Friedrich Wilhelm Schadow, which brings the women of the parable to the feet of the Resurrected Christ.
I may identify a little with the womanin the red skirt on the left a little too much these days (thanks, insomnia), but I love the humility of the women on the right, and how Our Lady places her hands on her heart...welcoming the wise women? Heartbroken for the foolish ones? Don't miss the corner pieces either - the top left shows the foolish virgins being turned away. The top right shows the wise virgins at the wedding feast.
A few questions to reflect on to prepare your heart for next weekend's Gospel:
- We traditionally interpret the oil in the lamps as charity, virtue, and grace. What is fueling the "oil" in my spiritual lamp? Is my relationship with Christ active or running on empty?
- The wise virgins cannot lend their oil at the last minute because grace cannot be borrowed from someone else. Do I rely on the faith or routine of others, like family and community, or am I cultivating my own relationship with God?
- If Christ were to come tonight, what area of my heart or life still needs to be brought to the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that I am ready to welcome Him?
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Blessings!
Mary Claire Scholl
Founder + Artist, 12th and Blossom
maryclaire@12thandblossom.com
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