What does "the commemoration of all the faithful departed" actually signify for us? This question arises because we begin 29 days of unique commemoration today. In most Catholic churches, today marks the annual reading or publishing of the names of the departed loved ones and friends of individual parishioners.
What is this rite except a recalling of the names of the dead and remembering either joyfully or sadly in the shared experiences of those deceased who have touched our lives? In fact it is much more than a remembering or recounting of lives in "sickness and health, in good times and in bad."
Today we begin the month long journey of an experience that truly demonstrates what Pope Benedict XVI calls a "surplus of love" when speaking about yesterday's feast day, All Saints. "All Souls" month calls us to understand the "treasury of the Church." It is for us the opportunity of giving our love in prayer for those souls who stand in need of further purification that will have them ready and suitable for entering the Kingdom of God. The prayers, alms, indulgences and other works of penance are very much like our writing letters of recommendation for an individual seeking recognition into a school, a business position, or a special honor. Our efforts during this month of November are our making real the treasury of graces that lead to the forgiveness of any imperfections that need to be removed from the soul of a deceased person awaiting the final call of the Lord Jesus: "this day you will be with me in paradise."
We take on this wonder-filled opportunity to help guarantee that final gift we can give another person, a prayer or act of self-sacrifice that will open the way into God's heavenly kingdom. Likewise, we can pray that after our earthly journey there will be our friends and loved ones still on earth who will remember us and assist us if there is a need to complete the atonement for our sins before our entrance into God's kingdom.
Again Pope Benedict: "Purgatory basically means that God can put the [broken] piece [of our lives] back together again." And you and I, through our prayers and sacrifices, you might say, become the glue used by God. Our November intentions as well as our daily remembrances in our prayers and Masses will bring our loved ones and friend to be together with the community of the saints "in one symphony of being" (Pope Benedict XVI).
The photo: In the Skyline Caverns near Front Royal, Virginia. The lower part is a reflection of the ceiling above a two inch "lake" of perfectly clear water. It reminds this blogger of our relationship with those who await our prayers for their joining the community of saints in the heavenly kingdom.
