Word to the Wise
Friday, November 2, 2007 - Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)
[Wisdom 3:1-9; Romans 5:5-11 or 6:3-9; John 6:37-40]The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was though an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace.
The official title of this feast day which we popularly call "All Souls Day" is revealing: Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. Despite some of the cultural celebration which can emphasize death, the official title is about living people! Death is a moment in life and not the opposite of life for a faithful Christian. Once we are conceived we are meant to enjoy eternal life with God. Nor does the liturgical celebration mention purgatory! The celebration is a celebration of remembering all the faithful who have died but it is OUR commemoration and OUR memories which need the celebration. Each time I go home, I make it a point to visit the graves of my parents and my sister, Ann. Once in awhile I have time to visit the graves of my grandparents and greatgrandparents and also an infant sister, Mary Grace, born between Ann and me, who lived but a day! These beloved family members may have died but they are alive for God and for me. I do not deny they died, I just celebrate their new form of existence. The reform of the liturgy after the Second Vatican Council sought to bring back the hopeful joy of All Souls Day, which previously had been lost in the concentration on getting as many prayers said and Masses celebrated as possible to "free" souls from purgatory. All Souls Day is about our love for those who have gone before us. The first words of the first reading, from Wisdom, are wonderful: "The souls of the just are in the hands of God and no torment shall touch them....." Celebrating their good fortune should be the purpose of the day. AMEN