Pages

Monday, November 03, 2008

All Souls Day

REMEMBER, MAN, you are dust and to dust you shall return.

On All Souls Day, we recall those who have died and especially pray for them.  As yesterday was a Sunday, the feast has been transferred to today.

We live in society that simultaneously is squeamish about death yet glorifies violence in its entertainment; a society that promises universal health and yet unfeelingly kills the unborn in vast numbers and is prepared to extend that killing to the elderly, disabled, and unwanted.  Our forefathers kept the reality of death ever before them and therefore held life as precious gift.

November is the month of the Holy Souls, and during this waning time of year, it is especially fitting to consider the four last things of death, judgement, Heaven, and Hell.

Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Cemetery, in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - Saint Liborius Church priest graves.jpg

Graves of priests of Saint Liborius Church; located at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery, in Saint Louis, Missouri.


The Church teaches that prayers for the dead are efficacious, and this is also recognized universally by ancient religion.  Whereas modern-day funeral or memorial services tend to offer little to us or for the dead, ancient liturgies pray for the departed and serve as a stark warning to ourselves.

The ancient Catholic Requiem Mass of the Dead is offered today at Saint Francis de Sales Oratory at 12:10 (low Mass) and 6:30 p.m. (High Mass), as well as at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.  A Requiem Mass for Alice Bub will be held on November 8th at 6:30 p.m., and will feature the musical setting of Gabriel Fauré with choir and orchestra.

1 comment:

  1. Excellent, Mark -- so good I can thing of nothing to add or quibble about.

    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete