INBOX INSPIRATIONS
November 16, 2022
November – All Souls
Dear Friends,
In our Catholic tradition during the month of November, we pray for all those who have passed on from this earth. In many parishes, all are invited to submit the names of loved ones who are deceased, and the entire community prays for them throughout this month.
The earliest evidence of this practice dates to the year 636 in Spain. Saint Isidore of Seville specified one day each year for a liturgy for all the dead. A monastery in France in the year 998 set November 2 of each year as a day of prayer for All Souls. This custom spread throughout Europe and eventually became the universal practice of the Church – All Souls Day on November 2. This practice led to devoting the entire month of November to prayer for all of our deceased loved ones.
The above prompts me to make one recommendation. Develop a list of all persons who have been in your life and have passed on from this earth. List especially those who have given much to you or have had a significant impact on your life. But also list anyone who has been there for you or with you in any way, even if only for a brief time. Look back over your life and slowly but surely develop this list. Besides family and friends, include classmates, teachers, co-workers, and others. Add names to this list as persons pass on to the Lord. And then, once a week, slowly read all of these names. Bring each person back into your awareness. Pray for them. Pray to them. Give thanks to God for them. This is a rich spiritual practice. It keeps us connected with our beloved dead and allows them to remain alive within us. This is part of what our belief in the Communion of Saints is all about.
We pray:
Gracious God,
I pray for my loved ones and for all who have been in my life who have died.
May they feel the warmth of your love and see the light of your face.
May they be at peace in the resurrected life of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen
Father Michael Schleupner
No comments:
Post a Comment