Faithful departed

Wisdom 3:1-9; Ps 23 The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothign I shall want.Though I walk in the valley of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me. Romans 5:5-11; John 6:37-40


Today we celebrate the Feast of all Souls. Yesterday we raised our eyes heavenward to recognize the saints in light in doing so we also became face to face with the reality that we are created for glory. The Church Triumphant stood before us singing the heavenly chorus: holy, holy, holy Lord God of Host.

Today we turn our gaze to the not yet reality, to all those who are on their way, who are experiencing the purification of God's love for them as their own selfishness is slowly removed and thus they are made ready for glory.

The Church Suffering, and suffering here is not to be understood as soley punishment but rather the pain of letting go, the pain of union, the pain of full surrender of self so as to be conformed to the image of Christ, as gold is refined in fire, so too the soul is purified.

We as the Church Militant unite our prayers for those on the way.

Here we are reminded of the beauty of the communion of saints. The merits and prayers of one can help all, thus no one is insignificant in the eyes of God. All have value, all are valuable.

We give what we can as we pray for the faithful departed and we trust that our prayers are effcetive and aid the souls on their journey to join the saints in light.

Today as we pray for the dead, the faithful departed, we live out the need for charity and justice in a concrete way.

Today also teaches us about the consequences of sin. It reminds us that true love remains not just and ideal but a reality by which we strive.

Surely, those who have dragged their feet in selfishness, though professing their faith in Christ, must be purged and made ready. Surley, justice demands this and charity makes it a reality lest we make a mockery of the heavenly banquet.

We all must wash our hands before we eat becasue of the dirt that had gathered beneath our fingernails.

So too the soul must be made ready. Think of all the wounds and filth and dirt our soul gathers through our life. What do we do with this? How do we accoutn for this?

Thus arises the teaching of purgatory. The Lord gives us the possibility of being made ready by his charity to us on the cross. Purgatory reveals the power of crucified love.

It is this crucified love that the souls of the faithful departed must pass through on its way to the fullness of glory.

And we here and now assist them with our offerings, our prayers. Christ has made our prayers significant for others, let us not waste the gift we have received.

Listen to the words of Jesus in the gospel today: "Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me...this is the will of my Father, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but I should raise it on the last day."

The golden rule applies for us. Let us do unto others as we want them to do to us. We pray for the faithful departed so that when they arirve their celebration in heaven will assist us on the journey as well. Reciprocity is part of the communion of Saints; They hope is us and we hope in them and together we find hope in Christ.

Here is a article on all souls and indulgences

Eternal rest grant unto to the O' Lord.

Let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in Peace. AMen.

May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. AMen