Commendation

Homily for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

(All Souls' Day)

2 November 2014

"Into Your hands, Lord, I commend My Spirit."

These are not just words of Jesus, but of all the faithful who have passed from this world. We pray for all the faithful departed this weekend, not only for their salvation, but because, when our time comes, we want somebody to pray for us - to remember us.

We commend our spirit to the Lord each day through the way we live out the Paschal Mystery. We die so as to live like Christ.

Our brothers and sisters who have passed from this world have commended their spirits, their souls, to the Lord in the hope of experiencing the same Resurrection we just heard about. We commend their souls to God because we love them, and wish for them to be embraced by the peaceful and loving arms of God. And one day, we, too, will commend our souls to God one last time, hoping that He will embrace us in His mercy.

Trusting in our merciful God, we now take a moment to once again commend the souls of the just into the hands of God. Let us take a moment of silence to pray for our family and friends who have passed, commending their souls to the mercy of God.



** In Paradisum . . . **




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Enjoy the journey . . .