"It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see"

We started this month during which we remember and pray for our beloved dead a little early with Warren Zevon's Werewolves of London as our Friday traditio to kick-off our three-day festival of saints. So, we'll make his rendition of Dylan's Knockin' on Heavens our last traditio of this reflective month. It is a reversal of what we've been doing, having a departed musician cover the song of a live one. This version is featured on Zevon's last album The Wind, which was recorded as he was dying of cancer.

Advent is a preparation for our celebration of "[t]he light [that] shines in the darkness", Jesus Christ. It always gets darkest just before the dawn:

"That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door."

With Advent beginning at sundown with our celebration of First Vespers tomorrow, we bring our month of commemorating our beloved dead to an end a few days early. So, once again, with everything in our hearts, we commend our beloved departed to Divine Mercy, saying Jesus, I entrust them to you and you alone.

All holy men and women, pray for us