Word to the Wise
Sunday, November 2, 2025 - Nov. 2 - The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
[[3 options]; [13 options]; [12 options],739]Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christs Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. [Romans] And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that Ishould riase it on the last day.. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day. [John]
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2025 COMMEMORATION OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED [ALL SOULS DAY]
[Suggested scriptures: Wisdom 3:1-9; Romans 5:5-11 or Romans 6:3-9; John 6:37-40]
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christs Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. [Romans]
And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that Ishould riase it on the last day.. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day. [John]
Once in a while, a particular feast day is important enough to supplant the regular Sunday scriptures. All Souls' Day is one of those feasts. Yesterday, on the feast of all Saints, we celebrated all those whose lives have exemplified the faith to us. Today we celebrate all those who, like most of us, have done their best but may have fallen short in minor ways and are in that state of being we call "purgatory," undergoing a kind of purification to allow the enjoyment of complete union with God. They are not without hope but our prayers are considered a helpful element in their process of "purification." We traditionally refer to them as the "poor souls in purgatory."
In my youth, we altar boys knew we would have to work hard because All Souls Day was one of the rare occasions a priest could celebrate three Masses in one day for the intentions of the Faithful Departed. A fake coffin was in the main aisle of the church, black vestments were worn, and the beautiful but mournful sequence, Dies irae, was sung. In countries of Latin tradition, there would be a stark contrast at the cemetery when tombs of deceased loved ones are festooned with flowers and decorations - favorite toys of a child are placed or favorite beverages are poured out and a kind of picnic is celebrated at the graveside!! The celebration is known as El Dia de Los Muertos (the Day of the Dead.) All Souls Day is not just about the immortal future of those souls in purgatory, but a reminder, too, to us that death is an event in life, not the end of it. Our grief at their departure can be replaced by our joy at their hope.
All Souls Day should be a day of hope and rejoicing for our deceased loved ones but also hope and rejoicing for our own future if we live and act in faith. AMEN