"Although we are mortal and we will all die, we can be sure that we were not made for death, and that death will not have the last word. We were made for eternal life, for glory, and for heaven. When we die, the soul, the person, lives on after death.
So while the Commemoration of the All the Faithful Departed is sad because it reminds us of our loved ones who have died and for whom we mourn, it is a commemoration that brings us great hope. It reminds us that it is worthwhile striving to live a good life so that at our death we are judged worthy of eternal life. It reminds us that it is a holy and devout thought to pray for the dead so that our prayers may assist them in their journey towards eternal life. It reminds us to pray for a happy and holy death and for the fortification of the sacraments at the end.
Above all, All Souls’ Day is a quietly joyful affirmation of the death and resurrection of Jesus, which is the source of our hope for eternal life for ourselves and for all the faithful departed. St Paul declares in the clearest terms possible: “We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him.” Our prayer for the dead is filled with the hope of the resurrection and of eternal life. Although we are mortal and we will all die, we can be sure that we were not made for death, and that death will not have the last word. We were made for eternal life, for glory, and for heaven."
So while the Commemoration of the All the Faithful Departed is sad because it reminds us of our loved ones who have died and for whom we mourn, it is a commemoration that brings us great hope. It reminds us that it is worthwhile striving to live a good life so that at our death we are judged worthy of eternal life. It reminds us that it is a holy and devout thought to pray for the dead so that our prayers may assist them in their journey towards eternal life. It reminds us to pray for a happy and holy death and for the fortification of the sacraments at the end.
Above all, All Souls’ Day is a quietly joyful affirmation of the death and resurrection of Jesus, which is the source of our hope for eternal life for ourselves and for all the faithful departed. St Paul declares in the clearest terms possible: “We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him.” Our prayer for the dead is filled with the hope of the resurrection and of eternal life. Although we are mortal and we will all die, we can be sure that we were not made for death, and that death will not have the last word. We were made for eternal life, for glory, and for heaven."
Archbishop Tartaglia All Souls Day 2020
Please find below a summary of suggested ways to mark and commemorate loss as well as resources to help plan some of these suggestions. Funeral liturgies and Mass planning templates can be found on the Liturgy page of this website.
Suggested ways to commemorate or
mark loss
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Memorial Service
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Prayers of Faithful for Months Mind Mass
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Mass Booklet Template
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Editable November List
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