The 19th century German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, once described the autumn months as “the season of the soul.” Even in our modern culture, I think many people would agree with this assessment. In the Christian tradition, this is evident in the abundant feasts of angels, saints, and devotion to our deceased sisters and brothers during the months of September, October, and November.
In nature, these beautiful weeks lend themselves to contemplating the spiritual side of life. In the Northern Hemisphere, the dying trees, the falling leaves, and the darkening days remind us that nothing lasts, everything changes, and all of creation will eventually return to the Earth.
This can be a time of increased sadness and loneliness. Letting go of the things we cherish and hold onto is a difficult and painful process. In a letter she wrote over 100 years ago, the famous (and controversial) English writer, Virginia Woolf, used the phrase “autumn’s ache.” Contemporary author and spiritual guide Sister Joyce Rupp, OSM, expanded on this concept and put it in a Christian context: “There is an ache in autumn that is also in each one of us. There is a wordless yearning or a longing for something in the air, and it penetrates the human spirit. Autumn speaks to this pain in our own spirits, that ache which we try so hard to ignore or deny or push aside, that little persistent reminder that death is always a part of life (Praying our Goodbyes, 2009).”
Rupp reminds us that as believers, death and sorrow are a natural part of life and a necessary part of our spiritual journey. These weeks of autumn highlight our grief, yet they also offer a sign of hope. The cycle of nature prepares the trees, the land, the animals, and insects – the whole of creation - for continued growth in the coming months. Much like spring, the weeks of fall are a sign of transformation and new life. The sadness and decay that seem to surround us makes space in our lives for new opportunities, renewed beginnings, resurrection.
St. Francis de Sales recognized each year, each day, as an occasion to grow close to God. In The Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales begins with the following observation: “God keeps this wonderful world in existence amidst constant change. Day passes into night, spring into summer, summer into autumn, autumn into winter, and winter into spring. One day never exactly resembles another: some days are cloudy, some rainy, some dry, some windy. It is the same with us. We are never in the same state (chapter 13).”
As the autumn continues to unfold, may we find time to rest, repair, reset, and be renewed. This is a time to recognize God at work in our world and in our lives. It is the season of the soul.
Fr. Jack Kolodziej, OSFS
Provincial
Wilmington-Philadelphia Province
