November 02, 2013
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All
Souls)
by Rev. Fr. Leo Nilo C. Mangussad, -
Rector, Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace (Our Lady of Peace Quasi Parish/EDSA
Shrine)
6:30AM
Mass at the EDSA Shrine
The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment
shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and
their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us,
utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be
punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall
be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As
gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them
to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about
as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and
the LORD shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand
truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: because grace and mercy
are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect.
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall
want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
Reading 2 Rom
5:5-11
Brothers and sisters: Hope does not disappoint, because the
love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that
has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed
time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just
person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died
for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood, will we be
saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were
reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled,
will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Brothers and sisters: Are you unaware that we who were
baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried
with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from
the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.
For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.
For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.
Jesus said to the crowds: “Everything that the Father gives
me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I
came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent
me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose
anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For
this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in
him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”
HOMILY
Good morning my brothers and sisters.
Today, we commemorate the souls of our beloved departed. Today is the time when we visit them in the cemetery. Today, we try to remember once more how much we are accustomed to be with our beloved departed. Two things are important - our connection with them, and the importance of our connection with them through prayer.
A lot of people always ask why we have to pray for the dead, when they are already dead, and there is nothing we can do?
Let me tell you a story. There were two friends fighting over the issue of purgatory. One does not believe, while the other firmly believes. The one who does not believe kept on talking and talking, as they were walking. At the end of the day, they went back to their homes. When supper was ready, the one who believed in purgatory said, 'It is time to eat. Come'. But the one who disbelieved said, 'Wait a second. With all the grime and dirt that we got while walking home, I have to wash, at least, my hands, before eating.' To which the one who believed in purgatory remarked, 'Exactly my point. You think you are ready to face God when you die, that there is no scar left. With all the tribulations in our life here on earth, we need to prepare, thus sometimes, we need purgatory'.
My dear brothers and sisters, when we pray for our beloved departed, we are helping them prepare themselves to face God in the afterlife. It is good to be reminded of how well we should be preparing for ourselves. Whatever we do on earth has a bearing in the afterlife. Whatever we do here on earth, nothing is lost. Everything is a preparation for our immortal life. Thus, immortally, we are connected with our beloved departed. The flesh is gone, but the immortal side is still there.
We are celebrating the beautiful souls of our beloved departed today. Let us be one with them again, in this beautiful prayer.
Good morning my brothers and sisters.
Today, we commemorate the souls of our beloved departed. Today is the time when we visit them in the cemetery. Today, we try to remember once more how much we are accustomed to be with our beloved departed. Two things are important - our connection with them, and the importance of our connection with them through prayer.
A lot of people always ask why we have to pray for the dead, when they are already dead, and there is nothing we can do?
Let me tell you a story. There were two friends fighting over the issue of purgatory. One does not believe, while the other firmly believes. The one who does not believe kept on talking and talking, as they were walking. At the end of the day, they went back to their homes. When supper was ready, the one who believed in purgatory said, 'It is time to eat. Come'. But the one who disbelieved said, 'Wait a second. With all the grime and dirt that we got while walking home, I have to wash, at least, my hands, before eating.' To which the one who believed in purgatory remarked, 'Exactly my point. You think you are ready to face God when you die, that there is no scar left. With all the tribulations in our life here on earth, we need to prepare, thus sometimes, we need purgatory'.
My dear brothers and sisters, when we pray for our beloved departed, we are helping them prepare themselves to face God in the afterlife. It is good to be reminded of how well we should be preparing for ourselves. Whatever we do on earth has a bearing in the afterlife. Whatever we do here on earth, nothing is lost. Everything is a preparation for our immortal life. Thus, immortally, we are connected with our beloved departed. The flesh is gone, but the immortal side is still there.
We are celebrating the beautiful souls of our beloved departed today. Let us be one with them again, in this beautiful prayer.
