Festum omnium sanctorum

All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day, or "Hallowmas") is the Church's Memorial Day, a time to remember those who have died in the faith of Christ. It is traditionally celebrated on November 1, but may be observed on the first Sunday in November instead.

There is a boundary, set between the living and the dead. This week, that boundary will seem to be a bit thinner. This week, before the Throne of God, we will remember all saints and all souls, thus reminding us of the entire Communion of Saints. It is so easy in our modern culture to get lost in the secular rush of Halloween and trick-or-treat to forget that vital portion of the Church, those whom we love but can see no longer. They are members of the Church Triumphant, from their vantage point close to God, they help us who are still struggling. We in turn pray for members of the church suffering still here in this life.

Think of it for a moment, the vast, numberless throng from every nation, tribe, and people, standing before the Throne and the Lamb, clad in white robes, with palms in their hands. Christ, our Lady and the nine Choirs of Angels, the Apostles and Prophets, the Martyrs in the crimson of their blood, and the white-robed Confessors.  All are there who in this life followed Christ’s teaching: the poor in spirit, the meek, the afflicted, those who hungered and thirsted after justice, the merciful, the clean of heart, peacemakers, and those who suffered persecution for Christ. Among those awsome throngs are those who were close to us, our family and friends, and not one of them has been forgotten by God, and they now share in the glory of “the Lord, the King of kings.

That then is the Communion of All the Saints; that "great cloud of witnesses," and with them, we who are gathered here in earthly assemblies around the Lord's table are all one Church, one Ecclesia, gathered in praise. This year is especially important to me, becuase by this time next year, my younger brother will, most likely, be counted in that numberless throng.

So, I pray that, as I continue on this journey, I will be less able to tell the difference between the souls of those I can reach out and touch, the souls of those I talk to every day, and the souls of those whose bones lie under decaying stones. All will become more and more jumbled into one. That's what the phrase 'the Communion of Saints'means to me.

Join with me (by posting the names) in remembering those who we still love, but can no longer see:

Almighty God, as You have knit together Your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical Body of Your Son Christ our Lord, so we remember:

my wife
my Uncle & Aunt
my Grandparents, my wife's Grandparents
one of my co workers
Men I have taken care of at Hospice

Give us grace so to follow these Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those inexpressible joys that You have prepared for those who truly love You; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who with You and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Comments

[[rhymes with kerouac]]

Mr. Dee, my father in law, whom I loved dearly and miss so much.

[Lorna]

Kathryn loved that you mentioned those babies. Be blessed.

[Kathryn]

My parents, John and Joyce Warner,
my father in law Mark Fleming,
my wonderful music teachers John Walker and Grace Nockles and Cedric Alcock, dear friends Anne and Roy Grave, Joan Moth and those babes who died before birth, whom i loved and treasured while I could..

[MaryAnne]

We remember all those who are always a part of our lives!

My Dad - Barney
My GodFather - Jim who was such a special light!
My Father-in-Law - Paul
My Step Father-in-Law - Joe
Our Grandparents - Bernie & Annie, Ogast & Violet, John & Marie, Bernard & Catherine
Our Aunts - Mary, Rita, Edna, Rose, Rita, Bea, Bridie, Eileen, Winnie, Vick, Anne, Mary, Helene, Nora, Winny & Mary
Our Uncles - David, Thomas, Larry, Howie, Tom, Ernie, Ben, Joe, John, Tom, Steve, Jimmy, Clifford, Jule, George, & Steve
Our Friends - Michael, Clancy & Lorraine
The fuzzkids - Sylvester, Muscles, Klondike, Finn, Birdgett, Cindy, Schrodinger & Midnight

[Emily]

Grandparents Karl and Frances, Hal and Jessie, Uncle Warren, and dear friend Bill.

[Addie]

my father, Terry, my great-grandmothers, Mama Gentry and Granny Brown, my husbands grandparents - shirley and Robert, my aunt Doris and Maybelle

[Jackie]

Sorry for posting twice :) it was a slip of the mouse

[Jackie]

(Poped over from Faith or Fiction)

My Oma - Mariane
My Grandma-in-law - Kaye
Good friend - Nigel
Aunty Caryol

[Jackie]

(Poped over from Faith or Fiction)

My Oma - Mariane
My Grandma-in-law - Kaye
Good friend - Nigel
Aunty Caryol

[Joe]

Grandparents: Dick and Tracy (NO JOKE!)
Father in law: Barry
Grandma in law: Arlene
I am not sure about pets and I am not doing this to be funny (so feel free to earse):
Dog: Judah
Cat: Orie

[BobW]

Rosanne Barnhill Winter
Willard Winter
Mary Auxilia Conroy Evans
Jacob John Winter
Margaret Trisler Chapman Winter
Robert Conroy
Patricia Conroy
Ellen B. Gunderson
Arthur Gunderson
Karen Gunderson Evans
Robert Hamilton Jacobson
A. Phillip Clanton
A. Clinton Hutton
Isabelle Riley Hutton
Mary V. Lohoff

[Bryan]

My great grandparents, Clell and Maggie.
My grandfather, Charles.
My wife's grandfather, Henry.

[HeyJules]

My Grandparents - John & Inez, Eunice & Carl; My uncles - Glenn, & Laverne; My friends - Jack & Tim (both of whom will always hold a piece of my heart), my GreatGrandmother, Julia, for whom I am named after, and Buffy, Willie, Lizzie, Emma Woo & Chelsea - my four-legged friends.

[CGMOM]

My dad Lewis, my grandmothers Mary, Mary and Florence, my grandfathers Harold, Tommy and Paul, my aunts Phyllis and Esther, my uncles Sam and Fritz, my cousins Sheila and Gary Joe, along with friends, Cheryl,Zora, Mary, and Billy Don.

[Lorna]

in Finland we celebrate it next Saturday - all shops are closed etc.

and then it's celebrated int he Lutheran services on the Sunday

The anglican priest will travel down from Pori on Wednesday to hold an a service for all souls

gives you some idea how mixed up things are here in Finland sometimes.

praise God hallowe'en doesn't even get a look in :)