Udupi/M’Belle: All Souls Day Observed with Requiem Mass in the Cemetery and Blessing of Graves

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 02 Nov: The All Souls Day, a day to remember and pray for the departed members of the family and loved ones was observed in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle on 2 November 2019 with Requiem Mass in the cemetery, special prayer for the departed souls and blessing of the graves at the end of the mass.

 

The Requiem Mass was concelebrated by Fr. John Baptist Menzes-Rector of Diocesan Minor Seminary along with Fr. Clement Mascarenhas-Parish Priest of Moodubelle and Fr. Jithesh Castelino-Assistant Parish Priest.

 

In his homily, Fr. John Baptist Menezes said that the parishioners have gathered in the cemetery as a community and family to remember and pray for the departed members of the family and loved ones. He also highlighted the significance of the All Souls Day. He further said that the church represents the mystical body of Jesus Christ which has three parts. The first part is the Triumphant Church comprising of the saints and departed souls in heaven; the second part is the Suffering Church, that is, the souls which have to undergo reparation and purify from the stains of the past sins and eventually enter into heaven; and thirdly, the Pilgrim Church comprising of the living  members whose ultimate goal is the everlasting life in heaven.

 

At the end of the mass, Fr. John Baptist Menezes offered prayers for the redemption of the departed souls from purgatory. Thereafter, the priests blessed the graves as the family members stood around these graves.

 

Earlier, the parishioners had leaned the graves of their family members and loved ones and decorated them with flowers and lit candles on them.

 

 

About the All Souls Day

All Souls’ Day, in Roman Catholicism, a day for commemoration of all the faithful departed, those baptized Christians who are believed to be in purgatory because they died with the guilt of lesser sins on their souls. It is observed on November 2. Roman Catholic doctrine holds that the prayers of the faithful on earth will help cleanse these souls in order to fit them for the vision of God in heaven, and the day is dedicated to prayer and remembrance. Requiem masses are commonly held, and many people visit and sometimes decorate the graves of loved ones.

 

From antiquity certain days were devoted to intercession for particular groups of the dead. The institution of a day for a general intercession on November 2 is due to Odilo, abbot of Cluny (died 1048). The date, which became practically universal before the end of the 13th century, was chosen to follow All Saints’ Day. Having celebrated the feast of all the members of the church who are believed to be in heaven, the church on earth turns, on the next day, to commemorate those souls believed to be suffering in purgatory.

 

Priests celebrate mass wearing vestments of varying colour—black (for mourning), violet (symbolizing penance), or white (symbolizing the hope of resurrection).