Each year the Catholic Church remembers all those who have died. We pray for our families, relatives and friends who have gone before us.
- Bring to Mind
Take a moment to call your deceased to mind.
(Pause)
- Time for Reflection:
The Visible and Invisible worlds in the Celtic Tradition
There are lovely stories in the Irish tradition of a man dying and then meeting all his old friends. This is expressed powerfully in a wonderful novel by Mairtin O’Coin, called “Cre na Cille”. This is about life in a graveyard and all that happens between the people buried there.
In the eternal world all is one. In spiritual space there is no distance. In eternal time there is no separation into today, yesterday and tomorrow. In eternal time all is now. Time is presence.
I believe that is what eternal life means: it is life where all that we seek, goodness, beauty, truth and love, are no longer distant from us but are completely present with us. This is the life we are called to beyond this world.
– John O’Donoghue: ‘Anamcara’
- Conclude with Prayer:
O God, our creator and redeemer, grant to all the souls of your departed servants the pardon which they have desired. You comforted Mary and Martha on the death of their brother Lazarus. Console those who mourn the passing of these, our brothers and sisters.
O Holy Spirit, who by your power raised Jesus to life again, bring us to that day of our resurrection when we will be united once again with those whom we love in the unending happiness of the kingdom of God.
We make these prayers, O God, through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns united to you by the Holy Spirit, for ever. Amen
-The Glenstal Book of Prayer: A Benedictine Prayer Book
Sr Mary Carroll SSJG
