What Is All Souls Day?

On November 2nd of each year, Catholics observe The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, also known as All Souls Day.  We are encouraged to pray for the dead and to remember our loved ones who have gone before us.  Our prayers for these souls assist in expediting the “process of purification.”  The Church recognizes that few people achieve perfection in this life (after all, we are human!), and therefore, go the grave with remaining traces of sinfulness; a period of purification is necessary to prepare the soul to join God.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.”  This is called Purgatory.  It is important to recognize that Purgatory is not a state of punishment, but rather a cleansing very much like our Baptism.  Think of it this way: Purgatory makes the soul perfect forever!  Our prayers for the deceased, put their souls in the HOV lane to complete purification and unity with God—pretty awesome!

In remembering our deceased loved ones on All Souls Day, it is common for people to visit cemeteries and decorate gravesites.  It is for this reason, this feast day reminds me of my grandfather, Sal, or as I call him, Pa-pa.  Pa-pa was not exactly a church-going Catholic until the last year or so of his life, but he religiously honored and prayed for the dead by visiting the cemetery of our relatives and planting flowers, placing wreaths or palm.  Today, my mom, her two sisters and their husbands continue Pa-pa’s tradition of visiting the cemetery and decorating the grave-sites of all their loved ones several times throughout the year.  I make an effort to join them at least once a year to pay tribute to my relatives and to follow my grandfather’s example of acknowledging those who have gone before us.

I will never know why Pa-pa did not attend Mass with my grandmother for much of his adulthood, but something drew him into church towards the end of his life.  Perhaps he knew his time was approaching and he found solace with the Lord.  This year, I will be praying for all of my deceased loved ones, but I will be thinking especially of my Pa-pa with great hope.

Be sure to reflect on the memories of your loved ones.  If you can, make some time to visit a cemetery, light a candle and attend Mass this All Souls Day.  On Monday, Good Shepherd will be holding Mass for the Bereaved at 7:30 PM.

This reflection on All Souls Day was written by Good Shepherd Parishioner Christine Berg.  Christine manages the social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter & Instagram) for Good Shepherd and works for the US Army as a Financial Program Analyst.  She received an undergraduate degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Accounting from American University and an M.B.A. from Florida Institute of Technology.