The Commemoration of All Souls

Wis. 3:1-9, Rom. 5:5-11, Lk. 7:11-17. Today, we, the 'Church Militants' are praying for all the deceased, the people we know, but also millions of others who have passed on from this life, still being purified of the remains of their sins. Our ties with deceased relatives and friends do not end with death because we need to pray for the 'suffering Church' (ecclesia penitens) still in transit, to help them attain eternal glory. To have this eternal glory, it is necessary that we be purged off of our sins for nothing unclean shall enter Heaven. The doctrine about 'Purgatory', speaks of the 'Mercy of God' who rewards us according to our conduct. Thus, today's commemoration is linked to the doctrine that souls of the faithful who at death have not been cleansed from the temporal punishment due to venial sins and cannot immediately attain the beatific vision.

Today we remember many whom we have known and loved, family members and good friends and the wider circle of everyone we have met in life, who have passed on. This is a prayerful remembrance, keeping their memory in our hearts, while we seek God’s presence. Praying for our loved ones expresses our ongoing communion with them. We commit all who are gone ahead of us to God, who also accompanies us on our journey of life. Our communion in the Church keeps us in fellowship with all who have died. Praying for the deceased members of our family and friends, we ask that they may have life everlasting as the Lord brought the widow’s son in today's Gospel, to life. We are also grateful to them, thanking God for the gift of their lives and all the ways we were blessed through them. As “God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us,” we pray that they now experience God’s love to the fullest. Eternal rest grant unto them Oh Lord and let your perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

May the Lord make our hope steadfast as we await the resurrection of all the faithful departed! Amen!! Good morning and have a pleasant day!!!