November 3. Commemoration of all the faithful departed. They had gathered at the parish early on Sunday morning to start their pilgrimage to the cemetery.  Men, women and children, all who had lost a dearly beloved family member or close friend made the short journey, and it was the company of the others that comforted them.  Bryan was mourning the loss of his wife.  John had recently lost a son in an accident, Paul’s son had been killed during an armed robbery while Mavis’s daughter had succumbed to AIDS.  Jos in his old age, still mourned the loss of his son to Covid. “Why him and not me,” he kept asking himself.  As parents they came to share their grief and offer one another support.  Fr George prayed a special prayer for grieving parents and reminded them of the support offered by The Compassionate Friends. 

Reflect, share, act. Scripture:  Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.   Psalm 116:15.   “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelations 21:4  Pope Francis:  We cannot fail to offer the light of faith as a support to families going through the experience of a death of a loved one.  To turn our backs on a grieving family would show a lack of mercy, and mean the loss of a pastoral opportunity and close the door to other efforts at evangelisation. AL 253 Jubilee.  What, then, will become of us after death? With Jesus, beyond this threshold we will find eternal life, consisting in full communion with God as we forever contemplate and share in his infinite love. All that we now experience in hope, we shall then see in reality. We are reminded of the words of Saint Augustine: “When I am one with you in all my being, there will be no more pain and toil; my life shall be true life, a life wholly filled by you” SNC21.    Act and Pray for compassionate concern for those suffering loss in their families. 

COMMUNAL PRAYER FOR THE DEAD. 

God, Our Father, we remember in prayer those who have had a special place  in our hearts and in our lives and are now no longer here with us.  We thank you Lord, for the gift of life we have shared together.  We ask forgiveness for the hurts we caused and forgive our loved ones too. Comfort us through the memories they leave us. May those memories give us courage for our journey into the future. Grant them a place of peace and joy in your kingdom where there is no more suffering and grief.  And when each of us is called to depart from this life May we be reunited with them in eternal happiness.    Amen

PERSONAL PRAYER FOR THE DEAD. 

God, Our Father, I remember in prayer those who have had a special place in my heart and in my life and are now no longer here with me.  I thank you Lord, for the gift of life we have shared together.  I ask forgiveness for the hurts I have caused and forgive my loved ones too.  Comfort me through the memories they leave me.  May those memories give me courage for my journey into the future. Grant them a place of peace and joy in your kingdom where there is no more suffering and grief. And when I am called to depart from this life May we be reunited in eternal happiness.    Amen