At the beginning of November there are
two special days in the Church Calendar. All Saints' Day (1st November)
is a major feast day on which the Church celebrates those who have
lived especially Christ-like lives - those we commonly call 'saints'.
It also reminds us that we are all called to be saints and that a holy
life is possible for us all. All Souls' Day (2nd) on the other hand is
not a feast day - but rather a solemn commemoration - a day of prayer
for all departed Christians. Strictly speaking a much less important
day.
But although All Saints' is far more important than All Souls' - it is
the latter which usually receives more popular support amongst church
folk and the reason for this is not too difficult to find. For many of
us All Souls' Day has a deep personal resonance because on that day we
come to commend our own departed loved ones to God's loving care.
All Souls' Day is usually kept with a special celebration of the
Eucharist which is known as a Requiem (from the traditional opening
item of the service - a prayer for the departed
: Requiem aetemam - Grant them rest
eternal) and which is specifically offered as a prayer for those who
have died.
Over the years, in a succession of parishes, I have noticed how much
this day means to so many people. I have always invited the recently
bereaved to come to the Requiem Eucharist on All Souls' Day and so many
of them have said what a helpful occasion it has been for them - in
particular being able to hear the name of their loved one read out and
having the opportunity to light a candle for them. But I have also
noticed that All Souls' Day goes on being helpful to church members
year after year as a way of commemorating their beloved dead. A
faithful Christian may realize that it is in the offering of the
Eucharist itself - in which the boundary between earth and heaven is
very thin - that they can feel close to their loved ones within the
communion of saints.
This year particular circumstances mean that we will actually be
keeping both All Saints' and All Souls' on the same day - Sunday
November 1st. The morning will be kept as All Saints but in the evening
we will be having our All Souls' Requiem. As part of our 150th
Anniversary celebrations our Requiem Eucharist will be accompanied by a
musical liturgical performance of the Requiem by Gabrie Faure which
will give a very special atmosphere to the service.
Many composers have written music to accompany the celebration of a
Requiem Eucharist. Faure's work is particularly popular because of the
beauty of the music and because it is fairly brief. Most often these
days it is performed as a concert item and not as part of an actual act
of worship. So what will be experienced on the evening of November 1st
will be very special indeed. The glorious music will enable us more
effectively to know the presence of Christ and deepen our prayer for
those who rest in Him. I hope that you will be able to join us for this
very special service.
Fr.
John
