The Catholic Church begins the month of
November by remembering all the known and unknown saints collectively on the
Solemnity of All Saints Day (1 November). We also remember the Commemoration of
the faithful departed on All Souls Day (2 November). It is our duty to pray
with gratitude for the departed souls and all Souls in Purgatory, who are still
being purified of their sins, waiting to be in communion with the saints in
heaven.
We place the Book Of Remembrance with
4500 names in it at the altar and
offer all their names, including all the forgotten souls, continuously in our
weekday and weekend Masses. On individual levels, we continue to pray on our
own and make penance and indulgences, so that they may be purified from the
punishments of sins, just as the Scriptures of the Old Testaments say: “Hence,
he had this expiatory sacrifice offered for the dead, so that they might be
released from their sin,” (2 Macc 12:45).
We also obtain a partial indulgence by making a trip or two, together with our
families, to the graves of our departed loved ones during this month. At the
cemetery, we recite the Rosary or any other form of prayer, in the memory of
them. These acts of prayer, penance and indulgence provide us consolation here
on earth, till we meet them again in the world to come.
Most parishes hold special memorial Masses and
prayers everyday throughout November, for the departed souls. I invite all
individuals and families from our parish to come together on Friday, 9 November
2018 to pray for our loved ones’ souls to rest in peace. We will have a special
Evening Prayer for all the departed souls, which will take place during Holy
Hour at our Church. We will begin with the Eucharistic celebration followed by
Evening Prayer at 7.30pm, and if time permits, we will have a fellowship in the
courtyard, after mass.
It is important to pray for others, especially
the dead. Praying for both the living and the dead is one of Corporal and
Spiritual Works of Mercy, which gives us a sign of hope, in the promise of God.
The separation is only temporary, and when we extend our prayers for our
deceased loved ones, we live in the words of St Paul, “May God who has begun a
good work in you bring it to completion” (Phil 1:6). As we remember them with
love, we pray that the Promised One will speed them along, to enter the gates
of paradise.
Who are the departed souls, which we could
pray for, during the month of November? We could pray for our parents, deceased
family members, friends, relatives, clergy and religious, separated brethren,
people of other faiths and all the forgotten souls. We could also include the
recent 189 passengers who were onboard Lion Air Flight JT610, which crashed
into the sea off Jakarta, the 239 passengers onboard MH370, which went missing
on 8 March 2014 or the 289 passengers onboard MH17
that was shot down 17 July 2014.
As we count our blessings, let us be grateful
for our departed souls and keep them always in our prayers, so that our God of
Mercy forgives all the sins they committed during their lives, and grants them admittance
into the kingdom of heaven. Throughout this month of November, we pray ceaselessly for all
those whom we dearly miss. We pray for their eternal happiness and peace, and for
them to be in communion with God. We pray and hope that they will become
personal patron saints for us and for our families.
Eternal
Rest Grant Unto Them O Lord, and Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Them.
May
They Rest In Peace.
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