Halloween, All Hallows' Eve

"Dómine, Deus noster, multíplica super nos grátiam tuam: et, quorum prævenimus gloriósa solemnia, tríbue subsequi in sancta professióne lætítiam."

"Pour forth abundantly upon us of thy mercy, O Lord our God, and grant us grace to follow in their joy in their holy testifying all thy blessed servants the Eve of whose glorious and solemn Commemoration we are keeping."

Information on Halloween and its connection to the Church's calendar.

Heartbreak for the Dodgers. Unbridled joy for the Astros.

"The greatest testament to Game 5 and to the delicious madness of the whole Astros-Dodgers maelstrom in the World Series is that the players themselves can hardly believe what they, and their opponents, are accomplishing.

Many teams in many sports respect each other. But the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers almost seem in awe of their foes and, a bit sheepishly, of themselves, too. Is this really happening? Are we truly this evenly matched, this obstinate and, under incredible pressure, performing so superlatively, inning after breathless inning?

After the Astros’ 13-12 victory in 10 innings — a five-hour, 17-minute game that had so many thrills that it never lost its almost insane pace and pressure — Houston’s Carlos Correa, a 23-year-old superstar in the peak of health said, with a straight face, “I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack out there."

-Thomas Boswell

Vain Pursuits

“Why do you increase your bonds? Take hold of your life before your light grows dark and you seek help and do not find it. This life has been given to you for repentance; do not waste it in vain pursuits.”

-St. Isaac the Syrian

Image of God

“Never confuse the person, formed in the image of God, with the evil that is in him: because evil is but a chance misfortune, an illness, a devilish reverie. But the very essence of the person is the image of God, and this remains in him despite every disfigurement.”

-St. John of Kronstadt

Treatment

“The person who truly wishes to be healed is he who does not refuse treatment. This treatment consists of the pain and distress brought on by various misfortunes. He who refuses them does not realize what they accomplish in this world or what he will gain from them when he departs this life.”

-St. Maximus the Confessor

The Monk

"Fathers and teachers, what is the monk? In the cultivated world the word is nowadays pronounced by some people with a jeer, and by others it is used as a term of abuse, and this contempt for the monk is growing. It is true, alas, it is true, that there are many sluggards, gluttons, profligates and insolent beggars among monks. Educated people point to these: “You are idlers, useless members of society, you live on the labor of others, you are shameless beggars.” And yet how many meek and humble monks there are, yearning for solitude and fervent prayer in peace! These are less noticed, or passed over in silence. And how surprised men would be if I were to say that from these meek monks, who yearn for solitary prayer, the salvation of Russia will come perhaps once more! For they are in truth made ready in peace and quiet “for the day and the hour, the month and the year.” Meanwhile, in their solitude, they keep the image of Christ fair and undefiled, in the purity of God's truth, from the times of the Fathers of old, the Apostles and the martyrs. And when the time comes they will show it to the tottering creeds of the world. That is a great thought. That star will rise out of the East."

-Fyodor Dostoevsky,  The Brothers Karamazov

THE DODGERS WIN THE PENNANT!

For the first time since 1988, the Los Angeles Dodgers win the Pennant and will be in the World Series.  What a team!

Enrique Hernandez's pivotal grand slam to make it 7-0 in the third.

Bryce Harper Goes Long

Harper demolishes an 80.4 mph curveball deep into the Washington night.

Goosebumps.