This year, we celebrate the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, commonly known as All Souls’ Day. On November 1, we celebrated All Saints’ Day to remember all those who are considered saints, some of whom we know, while others are anonymous. But on this day, we remember all the faithful departed, especially those who have been instrumental in our lives, and we commend them to the mercy of God.
We are reminded that we are all children of God with a destiny. We are bound for glory. Our citizenship is in heaven. But we also know that we need God’s forgiveness. For some, their entrance into heaven is almost instantaneous, but for most of us, we need to be purified before we can see God face-to-face.
So, the faithful departed depend on us to pray for them. We ask God to be merciful and just so that we can be made perfect and thereby share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Perhaps you may wish to make a list of all of your deceased relatives and friends and pray for them—not only on this day but every day. And one day, may the Lord greet us with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant, come share your Master’s joy.”
