Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

• Job 19:1, 23-27
• 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
• John 6:37-40

A light brush of frost hung on the glass this morning as the Paulines looked out the windows to assess the weather. 

“Looks pretty dead out there,” Vincent sighed, as his glance landed on the leafless shrubs and lifeless yard.  “The only thing that has any zip to it is the sun.”

“You know, Vincent, when you’re right, you’re right!” Dad perked up.  “And I think I might just use your example for our Gospel reading this morning!”

Dad gathered the family around the living room and opened his Bible to John, Chapter 6.  The passage ended with the promise, “Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day.” (John 6:40)

Mom began the discussion.  “Who,” she said, “can tell me what special feast day we’re celebrating today?”

Vincent’s hand shot up.  “I can,” he began, “it’s the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed or the Feast of All Souls, but … would you really call it a … um … celebration?”

Mom knew where Vincent was going with his question, but still she asked him what he meant.

“Well … ” Vincent muttered, “today is the day we pray especially for all the people who have died, like Great Grandma Pauline, Grandma O’Penyor, Auntie Hazel, Uncle Milty, and everyone else who has died.  I think this day is kind of sad when we go visit the cemeteries and light all these special holy candles.  It makes me think about them being gone.”

Mom smiled graciously at her son.  There was a tinge of sadness to the day, but moreover, she had discovered an awakening sense of promise, hope, and joy.

Mary Clare spoke up next.  “When I think of the Feast of All Soul’s Day, I think of something I heard Father Tim say in one of his homilies a few years back about dying.  He said, ‘Let us then die with Christ, to live with Christ.’  In other words, if we die in friendship with Jesus Christ and in a state of grace, we will live with Him forever.  I always remember that.”

Dad nodded.  “And I remember the words of Psalm 27,” he said, as he quoted them by heart.  “It says, ‘One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: To dwell in the Lord’s house all the days of my life.’  (Psalm 27:4ab) And that means eternal life!”

Vincent was now coming to see more of the glory of the day.  “But we still pray for those who have died already, right?” he asked.

“Absolutely, Vincent!” Dad answered.  “We pray for those who have gone before us, so they enter even more fully into the light of Christ, just like our sunlight outside this morning brings a new sparkle to the stillness of the world.”

Mom agreed.  “Remember what it says in Scripture about that very thing,” she said.  “In 2 Maccabees 12:45, it says we can look forward to, ‘The splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness.’  And in the Gospel of Matthew: ‘Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.’ “  (Matthew 13:43)

Everyone in the Pauline family now had a smile adorning his or her face.  But Vincent’s smile was a little bigger than the rest. 

“Vincent,” Dad asked, “you seem to be thinking of something pretty amusing.  What is it, Son?”

Vincent broke out laughing.  “I was just thinking back to last year’s Feast of All Soul’s Day.  Remember when I got to church?  I thought I was signing a guest book as we walked in the door.  It was really the church’s Book of the Dead!  Boy, was I in shock when they walked up the aisle with the book and put it by the altar!  I wanted to go up there with my pencil eraser!”

Everyone was laughing now.  “We’ll know for this year, Vincent!” Dad said.  “But now, let’s head off to Mass.  We’ll record the names of everyone we know who has entered into eternal life on this special commemoration day!”

And with a renewed faith in the glory of everlasting life, the family headed off to Mass.

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`

Remember to include all the names
of those dearly departed in your prayers today.

Would you prefer a print a copy of this story?

Our mission is to help parents respond to the Church’s call to be “the first and foremost educators of their children” and to help families grow in the transforming love of God by understanding and living our beautiful Catholic Faith!

Are you looking for more ways to help your family reclaim Sundays and grow closer to Jesus together?

• Help Father dress for Mass with our Priest Paper Doll.
• Learn about the Liturgical Year in a big-picture way with our Liturgical Calendar
• Follow Family Formation’s blog, connect with us on Facebook, and on Instagram.
• Meet the Pauline family.