Eternal rest grant to our brothers and sisters O Lord,
and let your perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in your eternal peace.
As today and this weekend we commemorate all the faithful
departed on All Souls Day, we begin that month long prayer for our brothers and
sisters who have passed from this life to the next. It is good and right that we should do this
and both Biblical and Church teaching remind us that our prayers do make a
difference and our necessary.
I always remember at this time my time as an “altar boy”
growing up. The priest wore black
vestments, something I found strange and uncomfortable. I know that some might disagree and there are
reasons for the black color such as penance, brevity of life, return to the earth but for the last 50 plus years the preferred color
for both funerals and All Souls Day Masses is white. The color white is not a
denial of death, the existence of purgatory, or in any way is meant to minimize
what the Church teaches about death and the afterlife. We believe in that stage of
final purification before entering the glory of eternity: Purgatory is a cleansing or purification for those who have died in God's grace. This day and month reflects how we think about death and dying and certainly frames our lives here.
Rather, white is meant to be the color of Christian Hope. We look
upon death not with denial but with hope.
We have hope because of the promises of Jesus Christ who said: “I am the
resurrection and the life.” Hope because
he rose from the death and overcame its finality which offers us the hope of
eternal life. The liturgical color of
black is still an option but it places a dark finality on the whole
celebration. Should we fear death? Not really because if we see death through
the eyes of faith then despite its sadness and loss it is tempered by the hope
that Jesus promises us. Yet if you've ever lost a loved one you know how difficult it can be. I speak from my own personal experience. But we do not despair or loose hope. That being said,
let’s move on.
So throughout the Catholic world primarily we Christians
remember and pray for all of our deceased brothers and sisters. It begins by ancient tradition an entire
month of prayer and remembrance for all the "faithful departed." It may by comparison be a bit of a downer
after yesterday’s commemoration of All Saints, which is clearly a joyful feast.
Yet, it really isn't and the reason is because of our
consistent Catholic belief not only in the reality of death but importantly in
how we view death. On the surface alone
it is an uncomfortable thought - that we will all die someday. We may become even a bit superstitious about
making out a will. The thought that at
some point in time, known only to God, I will no longer exist on this
planet. And, it will go on as if I was
never here. The sun will shine,
birthdays will continue, people will laugh, the weather will be beautiful, and
whatever I did in life will carry forth without me.
Sure, I will be remembered by my family and friends and
coworkers but eventually, all will move on without me. When the funeral is over and my body has been
buried, I pray that others will not forget me but will keep me in their
prayers. But why? Why do we pray for the dead?
Since the time of the early Church and even earlier by Jewish
tradition, we have prayed for the dead. Our Protestant brothers and sisters do
not have this tradition but in the Catholic world it is very much alive. In fact, we are the only Christian tradition
that a specific ritual around death and the core belief that death is not the
end ; it does not have the last say, The
dying are anointed with oil and offered sacramental reconciliation and if
possible the Eucharist, the “viaticum.”
The funeral liturgy is specific and rich with sacramental signs
of baptism and resurrection in the white pall over the casket, the Easter
candle, the sprinkling of the deceased with holy water, the placing of the book
of the Gospels and/or a cross on the casket of the loved one. We are also very
clear about the cremated remains of a loved one and how they should be reverenced
and given the same dignity as the body after death. Our body when dead is not a
piece of garbage just discarded like the rest of trash. It is that person who we loved and cherished
in this life and it is the hope of resurrection so it is right to treat the
body as the earliest of Christians did: the Christians buried the body in hope
of resurrection while the non-believers cremated. Cremation has become popular these days so
the Church treats the remains of a loved one with respect. Yet, it is not the
preferred way. The body should be at
least present for the funeral liturgy to be prepared for burial then if
desired, cremation may take place afterwards.
In fact the Catholic funeral rite, a celebration of Christian
Hope, is beautiful. Not because it is a
funeral but because of how we interpret what has happened. It looks forward, it gives thanks for the
deceased loved one, it brings an optimistic spirit in the midst of sadness, and
it acknowledges our faith and hope in Jesus.
It is far more than just a "celebration of life" which has
become a somewhat popular term. We have
a ritual which gives comfort. Time and
again I have heard from our non-Catholic folks who have said how impressed they
are with the Catholic funerals.
"You Catholics know how to do this," I remember someone
telling me once.
Jesus Christ has conquered death through his resurrection and
opened for all who believe in him the door to eternal life. So we pray for all those who have died that
in the last stage where God's mercy is extended (Purgatory) those holy souls of
our brothers and sisters will enter heaven cleansed and joy filled.
The doctrine of purgatory is somewhat troublesome to many in
the non-Catholic world. If you believe
in Jesus, when you die you go straight to heaven don't you? Well we believe that it isn't just faith in
Christ but also the good we do, how we have lived out that faith living through
the lens of the Gospel that will gain us eternal salvation. Yes, Jesus is our Savior but each of us is
given the choice to accept or reject what Christ has done for us. In our daily walk with the Lord, we are
called to holiness like the saints but the vast majority of us will likely die
with some still unresolved attachment to sin.
Where any soul goes after death is known only to God. St. John of the Cross, Spanish mystic and
spiritual Doctor of the Church, said that God will judge with love. Through the eyes of divine mercy, we are
given an opportunity even after death to be cleansed of sin and that final
stage is referred to as Purgatory. If we
make it there, the next stop is Heaven.
So, it isn't something to fear but something to hope for. As has once been said, Purgatory is the place
we go to wash our white baptismal garments.
So, let us not fear the future but commit ourselves each and
every day to look upon life through the lens of Gospel values and morals. If we live our life, formed by Christ and his
Church, we do the best we can and trust in God's mercy.
So, today and throughout the month of November, let's pray for
all those who walked among us and now we pray will enjoy their final
preparation to enter eternal life. We
hope they will pray for us as we offer them our continued prayerful
remembrance. This is a time for joy and
gratitude. For we laugh in the face of
death and give thanks for what God has done through his Son, Christ Jesus.
In him the hope of blessed resurrection has dawned,
that those saddened by the certainty of dying
might be consoled by the promise of immortality to come.
Indeed for your faithful, Lord,
life is changed not ended,
and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust,
an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.
(Preface I for the Dead)
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