“Lord Jesus Christ,
By your own three days in the tomb,
You made holy the graves of all who believe in you and
so have made the grave a sign of hope
That promises resurrection Even as it claims our mortal bodies.”
Rite of Committal Order of Christian Funerals

There are few celebrations in the Church’s liturgical calendar that are given precedence over the Sunday celebrations of Ordinary Time. The Solemnity of all Saints is one such exceptional case. And the celebration the following day of the Feast of All Souls is of tremendous meaning and power for us as well. On the Feast of All Souls we will be celebrating our annual Mass of Remembrance. I commend to your prayers, whether you will be with us for that evening’s Mass or not, those who have died during the twelve months since our last celebration. This moment can be a great source of comfort and encouragement to the loved ones of those who have died, as well as the gift of prayerful assistance to those who are moving beyond the gates of death to the Gate of Life.

Admittedly, it is a challenge to see beyond the loss and grief with which we encounter death. It is Christ’s gift to us, however, that our focus, as soon as we are able, become Christ, his own descent into the tomb, and his Resurrection to become the firstborn of all those who fall asleep in death. Because of him, even the grave itself is a sign of hope. Every candle we light, every flower we share, every proclamation of the Word and reception of the Sacrament of our Salvation is not a concession to the reality of death but a bold proclamation of and commitment to Salvation and Life in Christ.

In days that will be punctuated by provisions for Halloween and a national election, this is a moment of grace in which we are called to the richest meaning of Life. It is God’s call to live that meaning.
Fr. Tom