At a special evening
Mass commemorating and remembering all the faithful departed, parishioners are
invited to process in carrying a candle in honor of the person(s) they are honoring
in a special way. At the conclusion of Mass, the memorial candles are placed at
the Font of Baptism, where sacramental life begins, and are kept burning during
the coming week.
The Book of Remembrance
(or Book of the Dead), with all the names we have written on it, is brought to
the altar as part of the procession. Throughout the month of November, the Book
will be placed upon the altar at each Mass, uniting us with those who have gone
before us into everlasting life.
As our pastor
explained,
“Believing that death cannot (and therefore does not) separate us from one another, we are reminded by these feasts that all who have gone before us are still with us in spirit… For me, the celebration of All Souls is a kind of “Autumn Easter” when we enter into winter’s time of rest, and look forward in faith and hope to an awakening in spring.”
Perhaps my favorite
part of the evening’s tradition, however, is the music. Throughout the Mass,
the choir incorporates special musical pieces from the Requiem by contemporary British
composer John Rutter.
Here is the 7th and final movement from the Requiem, "Lux Aeterna"
performed by the Orchestra and Choir from the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Columbia
"I heard of voice from
heaven
Saying unto me
Blessed
Blessed
Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord
For they rest
For they rest
For
they rest from their labors"
