Moodubelle: All Souls Day observed with prayers and blessing of the Cemetery

By Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 02 November 2011: The All Souls Day, the day of remembrance, prayer  and sacrifice in honour of the souls of the family members, relatives and dear and near ones was observed with holy Mass, floral decoration of the graves, visit to the cemetery, prayers for the souls of the departed and blessing of the graves on Wednesday, November 2, 2011.

 

Throughout the day, family members spent some time in cleaning and decorating the graves of their near and dear ones with flowers. They also visited the Church and prayed for the eternal rest of their departed family members.

 

 

The holy Mass for the souls of the departed parishioners was offered by Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Parish Priest at 5 pm. Though it rained heavily in the afternoon and continued till evening, the weather following the end of the Mass was quite clear so that parishioners could take part in the procession to the cemetery. Family members and relatives stood by the side of the graves of their departed family members and lighted candles on the already decorated graves.

 

 

 

Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Fr. Paul Sequeira and Fr. Lancy Saldanha conducted the prayer service in the cemetery following which Fr. Joswey sprinkled holy water and incensed in general the cemetery. Thereafter, all the three priests went around the cemetery sprinkling holy water and blessing each and every grave in the cemetery.

 

About the All Souls Day:

 

November 2, 2011 is All Souls Day, the day on which the Roman Catholic Church commemorates all of those who have died and are now in Purgatory, being cleansed of their venial sins and atoning before entering fully into Heaven. At one time, Catholics flocked to their churches on All Souls Day, to offer prayers in memory of their friends and loved ones. These days, however, most All Souls Day Masses are poorly attended.

 

The importance of All Souls Day was made clear by Pope Benedict XV (1914-22), when he granted all priests the privilege of celebrating three Masses on All Souls Day: one, for the faithful departed; one for the priest’s intentions; and one for the intentions of the Holy Father. Only on a handful of other very important feast days are priests allowed to celebrate more than two Masses.

 

 

While All Souls Day is now paired with All Saints Day, which celebrates all of the faithful who are in Heaven, it originally was celebrated in the Easter season, around Pentecost Sunday (and still is in the Eastern Catholic Churches). By the tenth century, the celebration had been moved to October; and sometime between 998 and 1030, St. Odilo of Cluny decreed that it should be celebrated on November 2 in all of the monasteries of his Benedictine congregation. Over the next two centuries, other Benedictines and the Carthusians began to celebrate it in their monasteries as well, and soon it spread to the entire Church.

 

On All Souls Day, we not only remember the dead, but we apply our efforts, through prayer, almsgiving, and the Mass, to their release from Purgatory. There are two plenary indulgences attached to All Souls Day, one for visiting a church and another for visiting a cemetery. (The plenary indulgence for visiting a cemetery can also be obtained every day from November 1-8, and, as a partial indulgence, on any day of the year.) While the actions are performed by the living, the merits of the indulgences are applicable only to the souls in Purgatory.