HOMILY FOR THE MEMORIAL OF ALL SOULS (ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED)

Homily for the memorial of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls). 

Wisdom 3:1-9c 

Psalm 23:1-3,4,5,6 

Romans 5:5-11

Matthew 5:1-12a

Lyrics:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my Soul

Chorus:

It is well (it is well)

With my Soul (with my Soul)

It is well, it is well with my Soul

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, we celebrated "All Saints", those who already enjoy God's life and happiness in full in heaven. Today we commemorate "All Soul" those who are in dare need of our prayers as they are in  Purgatory, still being purified of the remains of sin. Thus, we remember all our loved ones, all those who began this journey with us but have now transited, those marked with the sign of the cross,, that God in his infinite mercy and compassion may harken to our prayers and grant them liberation.

The Church therefore is composed of those in heaven (the Church's Triumphant), those in Purgatory (the Church's suffering) and those on earth (the Church's militant). Those in heaven, all saints; those in Purgatory, all souls and those on earth, people of all sorts.

The First Reading tells that "the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them" (Wis.3:1). They will shine forth and run like sparks through the stubble and forever be under the reign of the Lord.

These souls shall shine forth because according to St. Paul in the Second Reading that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Rom.5:5). We have been given every opportunity to shine forth like the departed righteous souls because despite our sins He caused Christ Jesus to die for us to redeem us from eternal death and live the new life of God's grace.

The Beatitudes in today's Gospel has been given to us as a guide in our daily steps towards God. We are called today to offer our almsgiving, prayers and especially the Mass for them so that, through these sacrifices, their years in Purgatory may be reduced. They rely on us to help them as they can no longer help themselves. This is the reason the Church regards the prayer for the dead as a spiritual work of mercy that corresponds to us.

Does it make sense to pray for the dead? Praying for the dead has been practiced from the Old Testament. The Second Book of Maccabees recalls Judas Maccabeus, who took up a collection and sent one thousand drachmas of silver to Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice for the sins of those who died in battle (cf.2 Macc.12:45). St. John tells us that "If you see your brother commiting a sin which does not lead to death, pray for him, and God will give life to your brother - provided that it is not a sin that leads to death. There is a sin that leads to death; I do not ask that you pray about this. Every kind of wrongdoing is sin, but not all sin leads to death" (1 John 5:16-17).

The sin that leads to death is what we call mortal sin while the sin that does not lead to death is venial sin. The sin that leads to death brings about eternal damnation in hell if one does not repent of it. The sin that does not lead to death cannot take one to hell neither can it take anyone to heaven since nothing unclean can enter heaven. Where does the sin that does not lead to death take one to if one does not repent of it? Hence, the justification of a place of purification of those sins that does not lead to death that after being purified, one can go to heaven.

Today's celebration is so important that every Catholic priest is encouraged to celebrate three Masses today. Though not a day of obligation, we are encouraged to attend Mass today to pray for our loved ones who have departed from this world and are still in Purgatory. Through our prayers today and always we can greatly help the souls in Purgatory to enter heaven.

May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine on them. May they rest in peace. Amen.