Reflection

On Wednesday 1 November 2017 the Church celebrates The Feast of All Saints.  In the Church there are many canonised Saints.  On this day we celebrate all the Saints in heaven, aware that there are many Saints in heaven that have not and will never be canonised.  Saints that perhaps  we knew, lived with or are related to.

The following day, Thursday 2  November 2017 is traditionally in the Church The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (also known as All Souls Day).  Throughout the whole of the year the Church in the liturgy prays for the dead.  On this day and indeed throughout the whole month of November, we are invited in a special way to pray for all those who have gone before us.

Part of the human experience is to suffer the great pain of the loss of a loved one.  We are very blessed in our Catholic Tradition to have the capacity to pray for our departed loved ones and indeed all people who have died with the belief that our prayers and our sacrifices can help the souls of those who have died to reach the unending joy of heaven  (From the beginning the Church has honoured the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God – Catechism of the Catholic Church 609).  It is a gift of love for those souls that we pray for and indeed can also be a gift for us to be able to contribute to journey of those who have died.

During this month with the Church we invite people to remember and pray for those they have loved (in their family and friends) who have died and to pray also for those who have died without people to love them and pray for them.  At school we will have a Remembrance Book and are inviting all members of our community to write in the names of people who have died so that we can pray for them and remember them in the Masses at the College this month.  We encourage you also to pray at home with your family especially this month for the those who have gone before us.

With the Church we pray:

Eternal rest grant onto them,

May Your perpetual light shine on them,

May they rest in peace. Amen.

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