My Favorite Month - November

Today is the Solemnity of All Saints and the beginning of my favorite time of the year. As we progress into fall, I cannot help but pause and reflect on the lives of the saints. They serve as role models for all of us, showing that living a saintly life is not impossible. After all, through the waters of Baptism, we are called to be "saints-in-the-making."

As the month progresses, we turn our thoughts to those marked with the sign of faith as we celebrate All Souls' Day on November 2nd. I especially think of my father on this day, along with all the loved ones who are no longer with us. It is a day to remember the faithfully departed and honor those who have gone before us, including the many people whose funerals I have attended this year.

November 3 is Election Day, an opportunity to perform our civic duty. Of course, this year is especially meaningful because my name is on the ballot. I find myself wondering what the outcome will be, which makes this November even more special. I encourage everyone to get out and perform their civic duty.

November 11 is not just another holiday; it is a day when we honor our veterans. It is another opportunity to say "thank you" to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and their loved ones.

Finally, my favorite holiday of the year arrives on the fourth Thursday of November: Thanksgiving. It is a truly American holiday when we give thanks to God for the many blessings we have received around a shared meal, from a bountiful harvest to the opportunity to surround ourselves with loved ones.

The month would not be complete without celebrating my birthday, which falls between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. My mom always reminds me how much snow they received the year I was born and how my grandparents scolded my parents for taking their newborn baby out in such severe cold weather at Christmas time. My birthday also provides me the opportunity to reflect on the many blessings I have received throughout my life and what God may have in store for me in the year ahead.

The month will fly by quickly, and before you know it, Christmas will be here. That brings me to my final thought and an expression I heard years ago:

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift — that's why it's called the present."

Enjoy the month of November. God bless.