All Souls’ Day is this Saturday, Nov. 2.
In the book of Ecclesiastes we hear the words, “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die…. a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”
A long-standing tradition in the Church is to use the month of November to remember those who have died. Perhaps it is due to the falling leaves and the colder temperatures (at least here in Milwaukee) that our thoughts turn to the death made necessary to bring us new life. We remember because life has changed, not ended.
As we celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, we remember all those who have died. We pray for those people who lived among us and somehow touched our lives. We especially remember our family and friends, our neighbors and coworkers. And we open our hearts in a special way to those who mourn the dead.
Throughout the month of November, the Marquette community will remember your loved ones in prayer. Requests will be placed before the altars in the AMU Chapel of the Holy family, the St. Joan of Arc Chapel, the St. Therese Chapel in the Commons, the Madonna della Strada Chapel in Zilber Hall and the Donald Schneider Chapel in the O’Brien Jesuit Residence. Rememer, you can submit prayer requests online.
Eternal rest grant onto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.