The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace.
Solemnity of All Souls
November 2, 2020
Today we celebrate the Feast of All Souls. Both the feast of All Saints, which we celebrated yesterday and today’s Feast of All Souls, stem from a belief that there is a powerful spiritual bond between those in heaven and those living here on earth. We remain connected in some way to all those who have gone before us.
Historically, the Western tradition identifies the general custom of praying for the dead dating as far back as 2 Maccabees 12:42-46. The custom of setting apart a special day for intercession for certain of the faithful on November 2 was first established by St. Odilo of Cluny (d. 1048) at his abbey of Cluny in 998. From Cluny the custom spread to the other houses of the Cluniac order, which became the largest and most extensive network of monasteries in Europe. The celebration was soon adopted in several dioceses in France, and spread throughout the Western Church. It was accepted in Rome only in the fourteenth century. While November 2nd remained the liturgical celebration, in time the entire month of November became associated in the Western Catholic tradition with prayer for the departed; lists of names of those to be remembered being placed in the book of the dead in the church and prayed for throughout the month.
Today we remember all those who have gone before us, especially those we have lost in the last year. This has been such a challenging year to lose a loved one. Loss is difficult at any time, but this year and the pandemic have complicated our loss so much more. Whether our loss was before the pandemic or during, we are challenged to find ways to grieve, much of it in isolation from those we need or want to grieve with.
We take a step back today from all the craziness of the year and we remember those we have lost. Although we cannot gather in person for this day of remembrance, we gather as a community virtually to grieve together, to lift one another up and to find hope in the midst of loss. As you enter into this Touchstone reflective service, I invite you to pause for a moment, light a candle in memory of your loved one and pray with us for all who have died.
I want to express my sincere gratitude for all on the Lazarus Bereavement Ministry Team, especially those who helped put this service together: Gloria Padilla de Garcia, Rosemary Claassen, Sally Bowersox, Joanne Fisher and Judy Blackford. And a huge thank you to Fr. Pat Dolan for his technical and video expertise in putting all the pieces together so beautifully.
God bless and be well,
Christine Maschka
Director of Pastoral Care
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.
Where [I] am going you know the way.
Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me..."
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