The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

Not everyone can get to the cemetery on November 2. On this Feast of the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day), we take time to remember our loved ones who have passed away. For many of us, this is a significant time of the Church year. How we celebrate this time depends greatly on our social, family, and cultural heritage. There is no single proper way of celebrating this feast. What is essential to everyone is not to forget those who have gone before us and whom we remember and still love.

As we remember those who have died, we also reflect on our own lives. Here we can begin by recalling what Saint Peter Julian Eymard said: “We die only once, and we need this death to be a masterpiece. So, it is necessary to prepare a lifetime to take this great step from earth to heaven.” These words remind us that the dead continue to be helpful to us by underscoring the importance of living well to die well. For this, we are grateful.

Saint Peter Julian also remarked: “It is a great grace of God´s mercy to lead us into old age. It gives us time to sacrifice everything and love him for himself. If we can work less at that age, we can have greater wisdom, and the life of the heart replaces that of the mind.” Every day is a blessing. For this, we are grateful to God for the extended time we have to live gracefully until death.

One final reminder from Saint Peter Julian: “Heaven is for the angels and the crowned Saints; the Eucharist is for me. The Eucharist is heaven on earth. Here, Jesus establishes his permanent home, his throne of grace and love.”

Let Us Pray:

Heavenly Father, we thank you for all those who have gone before us and shown us the way of love, giving everything selflessly. May your Spirit enable us to meet the demands of being followers of Jesus, so that we too may choose the path of love. Amen.

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