All Souls’ Day, by Aladár Körösfői-Kriesch (1910)
Halloween – All Saints Day – All Souls Day
Hallow means a holy person or a saint. Halloween (October 31st) is another word for All Hallows’ Eve, because on the next day – November 1st, we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. Observed all over the world by many Christian Faiths, it is a day of celebrating the communion of saints; ordinary human beings who lived holy lives, in obedience to God’s will, and who now – in death – are in heaven for eternity. Everyone in heaven is a saint. As we respect & admire all of the deceased people who helped make the world a better place while still alive, we also honor the saints as the deceased who are especially honored by the Church, for having served God so faithfully. On November 2nd, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) we remember all those who have died before us, while we ask God’s mercy for them.
This year, in a very special way, we remember all those lives lost to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
As we approach Monday, November 2nd and the Feast of All Souls,
we remember our friars who have been met by Sister Death over the past year:
+Fr. Antone Kandrac, OFM Conv. ~ November 20, 2019
+Fr. Boniface Reinhart, OFM Conv. ~ December 28, 2019
+Fr. Edward Costello, OFM Conv. ~ February 18, 2020
+Fr. Brad Heckathorne, OFM Conv. ~ July 11, 2020
+Fr. Alvin Somerville, OFM Conv. ~ August 19, 2020
Daily Prayers for the Deceased
(Psalm 130)
V. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord, Lord hear my voice!
R. O let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleading.
V. If You, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive?
R. But with You is found forgiveness; for this we revere You.
V. My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on His word.
R. My soul is longing for the Lord, more than watchmen for daybreak.
V. Let the watchmen count on daybreak, and Israel on the Lord.
R. Because with the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption, Israel indeed He will redeem from all its iniquity.
V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
R. and let perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May all our departed brothers, sisters, relatives, friends and benefactors, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen
Let us pray. Lord God, You are the glory of believers and the life of the just. Your Son redeemed us by dying and rising to life again. Since our departed brothers, sisters, relatives, friends and benefactors of our Order believed in the mystery of our resurrection, let them share the joys and blessings of the life to come. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
