Commemoration of All Souls

Often overshadowed by the two days preceding it, Halloween (October 31) and All Saints Day (November 1), All Souls Day is a solemn feast for us which commemorates all of those who have died and now are in Purgatory, being cleansed of their venial sins and the temporal punishments for the mortal sins that they had confessed and atoning before entering fully into Heaven.

The importance of All Souls Day was made clear by Pope Benedict XV (1914-22), when he granted all priests the privilege of celebrating three Masses on All Souls Day: one, for the faithful departed; one for the priest's intentions; and one for the intentions of the Holy Father. Only on a handful of other very important feast days are priests allowed to celebrate more than two Masses.

On All Souls Day, we not only remember the dead, but we apply our efforts, through prayer, almsgiving, and the Mass, to their release from Purgatory.  There are two plenary indulgences attached to All Souls Day, one for visiting a church and another for visiting a cemetery.  (The plenary indulgence for visiting a cemetery can also be obtained every day from November 1-8, and, as a partial indulgence, on any day of the year.)  While the actions are performed by the living, the merits of the indulgences are applicable only to the souls in Purgatory.

Praying for the dead is a Christian obligation.  In the modern world, when many have come to doubt the Church's teaching on Purgatory, the need for such prayers has only increased.  The Church devotes the month of November to prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, and participation in the Mass of All Souls Day is a good way to begin the month.

And this we did tonight at our parish... remembering all the following members of our parish family who have died since the last All Souls Day:

• Raymundo Velazques, Jr (November 16, 2010)
• Joan Felix (November 17, 2010)
• Noel Piel-Cruz (November 22, 2010)
• Joan Murphy (December 18, 2010)
• Elizabeth Lange (December 19, 2010)
• Joyce Scott (December 19, 2010)
• Henry "Hank" Lininger (December 25, 2010)
• Georgina "Gina" Camuso (January 10, 2011)
• Irwin Kneasel (January 12, 2011)
• Michael Anthony Clement (January 2011)
• Gerald Marcavitch (January 18, 2011)
• Ernest Angle (February 12, 2011)
• Bernadette Butler (March 12, 2011)
• Judithann "Judy" Clement (March 17, 2011)
• Joanne Schoonover (March 19, 2011)
• William "Bill" Trace (March 20, 2011)
• Patricia Auchenbaugh (March 24, 2011)
• Thomas Tolley (April 11, 2011)
• Suzanne "Suzi" Trobaugh (April 25, 2011)
• Barry Bowser (June 6, 2011)
• Salvatore Marsiglia (August 12, 2011)
• Raymond Bercaw (August 19, 2011)
• Carole Sanders (August 29, 2011)
• Ben SanFellipo (September 20, 2011)

Here is a wonderful prayer, coming from the Byzantine Church, we can offer for them and for all the faithful departed:

By Thy resurrection from the dead, O Christ, death no longer hath dominion over those who die in holiness. So, we beseech Thee, give rest to Thy servants in Thy sanctuary and in Abraham's bosom. Grant it to those, who from Adam until now have adored Thee with purity, to our fathers and brothers, to our kinsmen and friends, to all men who have lived by faith and passed on their road to Thee, by a thousand ways, and in all conditions, and make them worthy of the heavenly kingdom.