The other day I was speaking to a protestant friend, a young widow who had chosen to send her children to our Catholic school. I was deeply moved by her ­reflection on their experience there: “I really appreciate the Catholic imagination and liturgical year; but most importantly how much you all talk about the Communion of Saints. The assumption of a natural, ongoing relationship with the dead—I feel like that’s vital for my kids right now.”

Our Faith reiterates from every angle that the veil between this earthly existence and Eternity is paper-thin. The Communion of Saints, prayers for the dead, the very Sacraments that make Eternity present to us: all of our doctrines and practices lead to this conclusion. November is a great month to appreciate this anew, and to spend some time in prayer asking that those who are grieving may be granted the consolation of this awareness.