Let us pray for the Faithful Departed today and everyday
Reflections on the readings for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (November 2, 2020): WIS 3:1-9; PS 23:1-3,5,6; ROM 5:5-11; JN 6:37-40
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
God created us for life everlasting when we will experience the wondrous gift of the Beatific Vision. We are not only meant to see God, but also to partake in His glory.
On this day we commemorate the souls of the Faithful Departed. Early followers of Christ were urged to pray for the dead. However, medieval monasteries were the first to set aside time each year to remember and pray for their deceased members. Then the Church set aside a special day to honor the dead. November 2 was chosen so that it would be held in conjunction with All Saints Day. In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus say that our Father desires every person who believes in His Son to have eternal life. “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to Me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent Me. And this is the will of the one who sent Me, that I should not lose anything of what He gave Me, but that I should raise it on the last day” (John 6:37-39).
God created us for life everlasting when we will experience the wondrous gift of the Beatific Vision. We are not only meant to see God, but also to partake in His glory. The Holy Souls, though, have not yet entered their heavenly home. They have an incomparable treasure of knowing that they will – but they are not yet pure and holy enough for their temporary atonement for sin to be ended. Since they can no longer help themselves, we can help them through prayer, almsgiving and other sacrifices, as well as remembering them in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Let us make a practice of offering the lovely prayer of St. Gertrude the Great: “Eternal Father, I offer You the most precious Blood of Jesus, with all the Masses being said this day all over the world for the Souls in Purgatory.” Calling to mind departed loved ones and all who are in Purgatory can be a great blessing for us as well, as we look forward to our own eternity with them in the company of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Suggested missionary action: We can help the souls in purgatory reach heaven by offering prayer and sacrifice for them. We can also pray for and give comfort to those who grieve the loss of loved ones.
Have a Mass offered in the Missions for someone you loved and lost.