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2nd November 2022

All Souls Day

READ: (Isa 25:6-9; Rom 5:5-11; Lk 7: 11-17)

REFLECT: A day of remembrance, hope and prayer…

 Dear friends, today we are commemorating all the faithful departed and a day dedicated in prayer to those who have died and not yet reached the heavenly abode of God. According to the belief of the Catholic Church, the soul of a person who dies can go to one of the three places;

Heaven is the state of supreme and definitive happiness. A place where those who die in the grace of God and friendship are perfectly purified, live forever with Christ. They are like God for ever, for they see God as he is, face to face (CCC. No. 1023). Hell is a place for people who die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God’s merciful love. They remain separated from God forever by their own free choice. It is a state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and blessed ones (CCC. No. 1033). Purgatory is a place where all who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven (CCC. No. 1030).

The theological basis for the feast is the doctrine that the souls departing from the body are not perfectly cleansed from venial sins, or have not fully atoned for past transgressions, are excluded from the Beatific Vision, and that the faithful on earth can help them by prayers, almsgiving and especially by offering Holy  Mass for the faithful departed. On this special day, every priest is given the privilege to celebrate three Requiem Masses: (1) for a specific intention, (2) for all the faithful departed and (3) for the Holy Father's intentions. This privilege was granted by Pope Benedict XV in the Apostolic Constitution Incruentum altaris sacrificium, (1915). 

What makes the day so important is that the Feast of All Souls day is as well considered as much more than a spiritual family reunion where we visit the graves of our ancestors and recall with a tear all the good times. All Souls Day reminds us of a deeper bond, for an ultimate reunion with God at the head of the family in heaven with all His saints and angels.

We also believe as Catholics that through the prayers of us the faithful on Earth, the dead are cleansed of their sins so they may enter into heaven. So with this introductory information, I would like to share with you three points of reflection.

1. A day of remembrance

On All souls day, we remember the dear departed one’s in the family, in relations, among friends, benefactors and well-wishers and all those who have been very close to in different ways and are no more. Pope Francis very aptly says that “Remembering is what strengthens people because they feel rooted; they have an identity and history. Memory reminds us that we are not alone. We are part of people. With hundreds of people gathered at the cemetery where their loved ones are buried, represent there have been people who have shared part of our journey. It is not easy to remember. Often we tire at the thought of looking back, of asking what happened in my life, my family, my people, but today is a day for remembering.”

Yes, this day is not a remembrance of people in their absence but we feel that they have been part of our journey and are no more right now. But we can still make them part of our journey, when we practice the good qualities they possessed or had while they journeyed with us.  This remembrance in their absence, although brings tears, yet the memorable time that we spent with our loved one’s will always be alive and ever present in our memories.

That’s why we always refer the past with remembrance saying, “When he or she was with me I had a good time” or “he or she was person of good quality and character” “I can never forget him or her for the good and goodness shown to me” etc. Let this not be a simple remembrance today but remind us of the good attitudes, values, behaviors that they exhibited and try to practice them for good of us in their absence. This shall be our due tribute to our dear departed ones, seeing their goodness and good things in us and doing the same to others through us and feel how special and precious were the departed ones in our lives.

2. A day of Hope:

Hope is something that grips us tightly to live life well and happily. If we lose life, we would be lost completely, but if we lose hope while we live, it is almost equivalent to death. Because, it is hope that pushes us forward, makes us see brighter side of life in all circumstances. It is like a power bank that gives us power to move ahead in life. We Christians in all the way blessed and privileged, because, loss of life or death is a turning point towards new life in Jesus.

The second reading from the letter to the Romans give us a message of hope saying that hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been  poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. The reconciliation was made a possibility for all by the death of Jesus Christ. So hope does not lead us to disgrace rather obtains the grace of God to be hopeful and joyful towards the future. Pope Francis, very confidently says, “This certainty at almost the last moment of life, this is Christian hope.” “It’s a hope that is a gift.” “So many things lead us to despair, to think that everything will end up in defeat and that after death there is nothing.” But the voice of Job should resound in the hearts of Christians, saying, “I know that my redeemer lives.”

Further, quoting St. Paul, in the Letter to the Romans, pope Francis says, “Hope does not disappoint, “hope attracts us and gives meaning to life. I don’t see in the beyond, but hope is a gift of God that draws us to life, toward the joy of eternal life. Hope is an anchor, and believers must cling to the rope that leads to it in moments of joy and in terrible moments.” Yes, the hope that we have in the life after death is a new life in Christ. The new life in Christ gives us new existence and new experience in the heavenly abode of God. So let us have hope of our participation in the heavenly banquet that God has prepared for each one of us.

3. A day of profound prayer:

Prayer is something an inevitable part of life. Because, it connects us to God, gives us strength and makes us powerful to face the realities of life with courage and confidence. Jesus was always connected with his heavenly Father in and through prayer. He spent time in silence and solitude to pray with his heavenly Father. The power that he had in healing people, doing miracles, casting out demons, bringing people back to life was his intimacy with God, the Father. Indeed, Jesus is able to feel the pulses and needs of the people.

That’s what we see in the Gospel reading. Jesus feels the pain of a widowed mother, who lost her only son and feels compassion for her and so restores the life of her son.  On all souls day, all over the world, there are many who are in tears for the loss of their beloved one’s and are in bereavement of the great loss. I am sure the Lord feels compassion and says to each one of us, “Do not weep.” The words of consolation and comfort that Jesus utters give us courage and confidence to go forward in life. The words of Jesus heal us of the wounded memories and give release and rise to new life in the Lord.

I am sure, on all souls day, many of us just don’t remember the dear departed ones rather we become more closely attached to them in prayer. We don’t just limit to paying homage to the dear departed one’s rather we move a step ahead higher in praying for them and praying to them. Therefore, the most important pious acts that we can do on this day is to spend time in prayer. So on this day we pray for the departed one’s so that those who have not reached heaven may become part of the heavenly abode of God. We pray for the living so that we gather courage to face death, a truthful and painful reality with hope and confidence. We pray to the departed ones so that their intercession and prayers boost us to live life virtuously and meaningfully.

So let this day be a day of deep and intense prayer, praying for the departed, praying to the departed and as well for the living, that we all may prepare to face death confidently and courageously to see the Lord face to face and enjoy the heavenly bliss in store for us.  Let us say to ourselves as we read at the end of the first reading from prophet Isaiah, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”  Yes, God grants us salvation and makes us rejoice with him in our reunion with God after our death. So let us pray for the departed to rest in peace and also pray for those of us who live also may live in the peace and joy of Christ.

RESPOND:

Do we remember our dear departed one’s and pay tribute to them by exhibiting the good qualities that they had?

Do we have hope in God that he will give us new life and renewed existence after death? Are we hopeful about our future as Christians?

Do we pray for the departed ones and pray to the departed ones for those living on earth to prepare to face the Lord after death?

Let us remember the dear departed ones, hope that death is not an end but a new life in the Lord and prepare ourselves to meet the Lord by praying for the dead and to the departed ones to obtain courage and strength. Amen.

“Death is only a passage from one life to another. To die is nothing but to depart from the limitation of mortal life and achieve immortal life.” (St. Francis De Sales, TLG, Book IX, Chapter- 13, p. 305)

May the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

God bless us all! Live Jesus!