As the Church enters November, All Saints and All Souls remind us that remembrance is more than recollection. It carries obligations of faith, charity and fidelity. The concerns explored in this edition, however different their immediate circumstances, reveal how easily those obligations are neglected when institutions, traditions and even the language of Christianity become detached from their original purpose.
EDITORIAL: What the Living Owe
There is something wonderfully uncompromising about the Church’s observance of the first two days of November. On All Saints, she rejoices in the innumerable multitude who have attained their eternal happiness. On All Souls, she turns towards those who have died in God’s friendship and still require her prayers. The triumphant Gaudeamus omnes in Domino gives way to the solemn Requiem aeternam. Between them lies the whole Christian understanding of human existence: we have been created for eternity, and what we do with our earthly lives matters.
The Church remembers because she believes. Her saints are not merely admirable figures from history, nor are the departed simply names preserved in family recollection. The communion of saints is a living reality, binding together those already in glory, those undergoing purification and those still making their pilgrimage through this world. Such remembrance entails responsibility. We owe prayers to the dead, fidelity to those who handed on the Faith, and something worth inheriting to those who will follow us.
It is this question of responsibility which runs beneath much of the present edition. We encounter institutions which retain the language of their founding purpose while sometimes appearing uncertain about its demands; religious leaders whose desire for accommodation risks obscuring the Church’s missionary calling; and public authorities whose professions of safeguarding and tolerance must be measured against their actual treatment of the vulnerable and the conscientious. The circumstances differ, as do the merits of individual cases. Yet the underlying question persists: do those entrusted with an inheritance still understand what they are obliged to preserve?
The plight of persecuted Christians reminds us that fidelity can exact a terrible price. Their perseverance should also provoke uncomfortable reflection among those of us who enjoy freedoms which we sometimes fail to exercise. Meanwhile, the Vatican’s own recognition of the fading collective memory of Christian ritual raises questions about what has been lost in the name of renewal. Traditions which once shaped the imagination, conscience and daily habits of generations cannot simply be discarded and then easily recovered when their absence becomes apparent.
November offers a necessary correction to our preoccupations. The saints were not principally concerned with managing institutions, securing public approval or accommodating the opinions of their age. They sought holiness, often through the unremarkable but demanding fulfilment of ordinary duties. The Holy Souls remind us that those duties do not end at the graveside. Our prayers and the offering of Requiem Masses remain acts of charity towards those who can no longer perform them for themselves.
In an age so anxious about preserving its material inheritance, the Church asks us to attend to something infinitely more valuable. Buildings may be restored, ceremonies revived and institutions reformed, but the Faith must be lived if it is to be handed on. That work begins in our homes, at our altars, in the instruction of our children and in the practical charity we extend to our neighbours.
This November, let us remember the departed, pray for the persecuted, defend the vulnerable and attend more faithfully to our own salvation. We have received much from those who came before us. What matters now is what we shall leave behind.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.
IN THIS EDITION
- REQUIEM AETERNAM: THE CHURCH THAT WILL NOT FORGET HER DEAD
The All Souls liturgy highlights the Catholic Church’s commitment to assisting the departed through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, intercessory prayers, and suffrages. It explores the theology of Purgatory, the significance of the Requiem, and the privilege established by Benedict XV for offering three Masses, encouraging remembrance of the deceased. - ORDO w/c 01.11.26
From 1–8 November 2026, the Church commemorates All Saints and reflects on the faithful departed. This period includes diverse celebrations such as the Octave of All Saints, All Souls’ Day, and the feasts of St Charles Borromeo and St Willibrord. These observances highlight the communion among saints, those in purification, and the Militant Church, emphasising charity and the efficacy of intercession. - GAUDEAMUS OMNES IN DOMINO: The Tridentine Liturgy of All Saints and the Glory of the Church Triumphant
The All Saints celebration conveys a profound understanding of the unity of the Church and the eternal destiny of the redeemed. Through traditional liturgy, biblical teachings, and the examples of saints, this feast emphasises the call to holiness for all Christians. The study, informed by key theologians, underscores the richness of Catholic tradition and the significance of the feast’s historical and theological dimensions. - THE FREEDOM THAT CANNOT SAY NO
This discussion explores the concept of freedom, distinguishing between true liberty, grounded in moral responsibility, and mere licence, which permits morally questionable choices. Catholic teachings emphasize the importance of virtue, divine grace, and self-discipline in exercising free will. The fulfillment of freedom involves acknowledging obligations and striving for holiness. - THE DEAD WE DARE NOT JUDGE
The article explores the Catholic Church’s teachings on complex issues surrounding death, including suicide, abandonment of faith, and unbaptised infants. It distinguishes between mortal sin and personal culpability, underlining the importance of grace and repentance. The study affirms the need for compassion while maintaining doctrinal integrity regarding salvation and the afterlife, highlighting the Church’s duty to pray for the deceased without presuming outcomes not revealed by God. - WHO INVESTIGATES THE BISHOP? The safeguarding crisis that better communication cannot solve
Paulina Guzik’s Truth Heals emphasises the need for the Catholic Church to prioritise transparency and accountability regarding sexual abuse cases. The core issue lies in ecclesiastical governance, as bishops often control investigations into their own actions. Genuine reform necessitates independent inquiries to ensure justice, not just improved communication and apologies. - THE CASSOCK ONE LEAVES BEHIND
The distinctive cassocks of Rome’s historic ecclesiastical colleges showcased the Church’s international character and priestly formation. Each colour symbolised institutional identity, discipline, and belonging. Their abandonment after formation highlights the essential relationship between traditional dress and the authority governing it, emphasising the importance of understanding ecclesiastical customs in contemporary practice. - THE FULL TROLLEY AND THE EMPTY HIGH STREET
The relentless pursuit of convenience fosters environmental issues and erodes local economies. Consumers often overlook the impact of packaging while seeking effortless solutions. Independent businesses are disappearing, limiting opportunities for youth and weakening community ties. A balance between commercial efficiency and social responsibility is essential for fostering economic resilience and community well-being. - THE BAPTISMS ARE REAL… WHAT WILL KEEP THEM CATHOLIC?
The Catholic Church is witnessing a rise in adult baptisms in France, prompting Vatican caution about the challenges of ensuring long-term commitment from converts. The Dicastery highlights the decline of collective ritual memory and urges careful transmission of faith, while questioning the impact of liturgical reforms on worship practices and instruction for new members. - “WE STARTED PRAYING LIKE WE WERE THIEVES” | China’s Underground Catholics and the Struggle to Preserve the Faith
China’s underground Catholics face severe oppression, including imprisonment and worship restrictions, as the Communist Party’s Sinicization programme seeks to align Catholic doctrine with socialist ideologies. This encroachment threatens the integrity of their faith and spiritual independence, highlighting fears that their religious practices may be irrevocably altered by political demands. - THE DOMESTIC CHURCH: 1–8 November 2026
The second instalment of The Domestic Church guides traditional Catholic households through 1–8 November 2026, embracing All Saints, All Souls and the traditional octave. With a daily family activity table, cemetery customs, complete Latin and English prayers, and explanations of Purgatory, mortal and venial sin, indulgences, the Nine First Fridays and the Five First Saturdays, it includes a family Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart and a practical fifteen-minute First Saturday meditation, helping families make prayer for the departed a lasting part of Catholic home life. - CALDEY ISLAND: NO CLOISTER ABOVE THE LAW
Fresh allegations against a Cistercian monk have highlighted ongoing issues of child sexual abuse and institutional neglect at Caldey Abbey. Despite recent safeguarding reforms and an independent review revealing significant failures, survivors remain sceptical about genuine change. The article argues that religious authority must prioritise accountability and moral responsibility over institutional preservation. - WHAT THE RAIN EXPOSED AT SOUTHWELL
Southwell Minster, a notable medieval church in England, is at risk of closure in 2027 due to severe financial issues, including over £20 million in needed repairs. This situation highlights shortcomings in church governance and funding, prompting concerns about preserving the Christian heritage and responsibilities of future generations towards historic religious sites. - NOT HERE TO CONVERT? WHEN THE CHURCH FORGETS WHY SHE WAS SENT
Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco’s recent statements on the Church’s role in Algeria, denying a mission to convert, have sparked significant debate, mirroring earlier comments by Cardinal Aguiar before World Youth Day 2023. Bishop Barron’s critique underscores the ongoing tension between religious fraternity and the essential call of the Church to evangelise. - “WE ARE NOT YOUR ENEMIES”: ROME MUST ANSWER ITS OWN CHILDREN
Michael Matt’s open letter to Pope Leo XIV, supported by over 100,000 Catholics, questions why traditional Catholics are treated as problematic. It emphasises the Church’s duty to preserve her inherited faith amidst growing restrictions and controversies. The letter calls for clarity, justice, and pastoral care for those loyal to traditional liturgy. - ROME AND WINDSOR: Honours Without Unity
Reciprocal honours between Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III raise questions for prospective converts to Catholicism about the significance of leaving Anglicanism. The editorial argues that genuine reconciliation must entail a clear affirmation of Catholic truths, supporting converts who make personal sacrifices, rather than obscuring doctrinal differences under the guise of friendship. - DIES IRAE: Four Notes of Death
The Dies irae, a medieval sequence reflecting on divine judgement, has significantly influenced Western music from the 13th century to contemporary cinema. While its Christian message of repentance and mercy has faded from liturgical practices, the haunting motif continues to resonate in film scores, evoking themes of mortality and moral reckoning. - THE ROMAN MASS IS NOT A GUEST IN ITS OWN CHURCH
Bishop Rob Mutsaerts questions the Church’s contradictory stance regarding the traditional Roman Mass compared to Eastern liturgies. While traditionalists face restrictions, their attachment to inherited worship shouldn’t be deemed suspicious. This editorial highlights the Church’s duty to preserve its liturgical heritage, ensuring it remains integral to future generations of Catholics. - VATICAN DICASTERY LINKS TRADITION TO ‘EXTREMISM’
The Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship has controversially linked kneeling for Communion and women wearing chapel veils to extremism, despite these practices being recognised within Catholic tradition. Pope Leo XIV emphasised kneeling as a sign of worship, revealing a tension between traditional reverence and contemporary liturgical interpretations following Vatican II reforms. - PEACE HAS A NAME: THE KING LEFT UNNAMED AT ASSISI
Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 Assisi address advocated for peace and dialogue among world religions while omitting mention of Jesus Christ. This exclusion contrasts sharply with traditional Catholic teachings emphasising Christ’s sovereignty. The commentary critiques the gap between pastoral actions and doctrinal integrity, asserting that cooperation for peace should not overshadow the Church’s duty to proclaim Christ.
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