It is in this month of November the Church invites us to make prayerful memory of our loved ones who have died, commending them to the love and mercy of our Savior, Jesus. November 2 is The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Soul’s Day). This Sunday evening at 5 PM we will celebrate our annual memorial Mass for those of our parish who have died this past year. Additionally, books of commemoration are on stands near the sanctuary of the church so that you can note the names of your departed loved ones. You can also visit the parish office and have a Mass (or Masses) offered for the repose of the soul of one who has died. In all of this, we are exercising an important work of mercy, yet one - thanks be to God - that redounds to our benefit. Remembering helps us be grateful for those who were among us in this life; helps us to cherish the time we have; helps us place all our trust in the promise of Christ: that in Him we will all be brought to life (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:22).
I recently came across this poem by a Benjamin Myers that captures the importance of remembering. May it inspire you to take that to the next level, as it were, and pray in joyful hope for the salvation of our departed loved ones in Christ. And may we, thanks to Christ, be one day reunited with them in the joys of heaven.
David J. Conrad
Parting Gifts
Thanks for playing. Here’s your consolation prize:
a mountain capped with fog, the sun behind
throwing light circumspectly on a lake, the way
a painter lights a lovely face from out
of frame. I’m sorry you didn’t win, but here’s
your daughter’s voice at eight floating on breath
as softly as a leaf drifts down a sleepy creek.
And take this memory: your father’s pipe
left by his chair, the cherry bowl burned black, the wood
worn thin beneath his fingertips. You did
not win first-place or runner-up or even third.
Few do; few can. The exit lights are lit.
So take these prizes with you and go home. Grow old.
From time to time take out these things and be consoled.
I recently came across this poem by a Benjamin Myers that captures the importance of remembering. May it inspire you to take that to the next level, as it were, and pray in joyful hope for the salvation of our departed loved ones in Christ. And may we, thanks to Christ, be one day reunited with them in the joys of heaven.
David J. Conrad
Parting Gifts
Thanks for playing. Here’s your consolation prize:
a mountain capped with fog, the sun behind
throwing light circumspectly on a lake, the way
a painter lights a lovely face from out
of frame. I’m sorry you didn’t win, but here’s
your daughter’s voice at eight floating on breath
as softly as a leaf drifts down a sleepy creek.
And take this memory: your father’s pipe
left by his chair, the cherry bowl burned black, the wood
worn thin beneath his fingertips. You did
not win first-place or runner-up or even third.
Few do; few can. The exit lights are lit.
So take these prizes with you and go home. Grow old.
From time to time take out these things and be consoled.
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