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November 3, 2018For the month of November, the Book of the Names of the Dead will be available for parishioners to write the names of their beloved family members and friends who have passed away since last year. The book will be available in the narthex in front of the big painting of the Divine Mercy image of Jesus along with a pen to write with.
Oh, how we long to have our loved ones next to us ... and even more so when they have passed away. We all desire to express in a physical way the longing of our hearts. So, the Church in her infinite wisdom granted us this tradition of writing their names in a book and praying for them as a community.
We pray for the dead by name because their name identifies them as a person and brings forth memories. Names are important. Otherwise what one word can fully describe someone? You can say she had a great sense of humor or he was very generous with his time, but those adjectives are not enough. The person's name comes as close as possible of describing the many facets of a person.
The names in the book are not just ink on a piece of paper. Their names are a reminder of who they are in our minds and hearts. And when we see their names, we pray for them. We pray and hope that they are in the light of God's face; we hope that they are rejoicing with the saints and angels in the heavenly Jerusalem.
One day we will have our names written in the book by someone who remembers us.
What kind of memories will your name evoke?
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ,
by your own three days in the tomb,
you hallowed the graves of all who believe in you
and so made the grave a sign of hope
that promises resurrection
even as it claims our mortal bodies.
Grant that our brother/sister, [Name], may sleep here in peace until
you awaken him/her to glory,
for you are the resurrection and the life.
Then he/she will see you face to face and
in your light will see light and
know the splendor of God,
for you live and reign forever and ever.Amen.'