Thursday, November 2, 2023

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

(Wisdom 3:1-9; Romans 6:3-9; John 6:37-40)

The custom of remembering the dead has a long history.  Early Christians assumed the traditions of pagan ancestors.  In the Middle Ages local churches observed different days to pray for the dead.  It is thought that the designation of November 2 to pray for the dead originated with St. Odilo, an abbot of the famous Benedictine monastery of Cluny.  He ordained that all monasteries founded from Cluny offer special prayers for the dead on the day after All Saints Day.

In today’s gospel Jesus hints at the appropriateness of praying for the dead.  He says that no one who believes in him will be rejected.  The need for prayer comes from the honest recognition that most people don’t follow Jesus perfectly.  The living pray to God that their beloved dead will be perfected soon so that they can join Christ in glory.

Hoping that people will pray for us when we die, we pray for our beloved dead.  We are aware of our imperfections but also of God’s mercy.  We believe that just by carrying out this act of mercy, we are coming closer to God.

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

 Commemoration of All the Faithfully Departed

(John 6:37-40)

All Souls Day is like no other in the liturgical year. It is not a feast on which we recite the Gloria during mass. Much less is it a solemnity on which we profess the Creed.  Nor is it memorial like tomorrow when we celebrate San Martín de Porres. Yet it must be observed.  Like a bitter pill it is provided by the Church to heal us of sickness.  On All Souls Day we recover from the forgetfulness of our dead as well as our own deaths.

Other than perhaps our parents, a spouse, a sibling, or in rarer cases a friend, we too easily forget our dead loved ones.  Yet their souls remain for us to help with our prayers.  We pray that the Lord will be merciful to them.  Perhaps they were not as guilty of sin as it seemed because of some cultural or personal condition.  Perhaps as well, they made an act of contrition before dying. 

Today, a good day to visit the cemetery, we are reminded that we too will die.  This being so, we want to renew our faith in the efficacy of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  We remind ourselves especially today that his passover from this world to the Father promises the same destiny to those who stay close to him.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

The Commemoration of All the Faithfully Departed

(John 6:37-40)

We have all seen them – crosses with artificial flowers, an altar on the roadside.  Sometimes there is an inscription like, “To our Rene; we will never forget you.”  Obviously the altar serves as a reminder of a beloved dead person who was killed in a traffic accident.  The person was likely young, perhaps driving too fast or when sleepy.  We don’t know although the victim’s loved will never forget.  Today, All Souls Day, we pray especially for those who have suffered accidental deaths and countless others.

The “Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed” has been celebrated in the Church for centuries.  It provides us an opportunity to pray for the dead who had difficulty living up to the high standards set by Jesus in the gospel.  The day also gives us pause to consider our own eventual deaths.  Will we be remembered principally for our adherence to Christ or will our faults predominate? 

In today’s gospel Jesus says that he was sent to save all who believe in him.  Surely believing in Jesus means more than paying him lip service. Some may try to beat death with empty words as others try to beat a prison sentence with lies.  But even for those of us who are trying to live good lives, our behavior often falls short of perfection. For this reason we pray today for God’s mercy on all who have died.