Remembering our Dead |
One of the greatest signs of love is remembrance. We set time aside during November to remember and pray for our brothers and sisters who have died. We are particularly mindful of those who died during the past eight months from Covid-19 and from other causes. We pray that they have passed from death to life in the company of the Risen Christ, the firstborn from the dead, whose love has overcome all things. All over Ireland in our Churches, we are dedicating this month of November to their memory and we commend them to the love and mercy of God. We pray also for those who mourn the death of a loved one and whose grieving has been all the more difficult on account of pandemic restrictions. We pray too for our healthcare workers and all who keep essential services going. We pray especially for those who died as a result of their selfless service during the pandemic. (from a service led by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin) On the first Friday of every month, the dead are especially remembered in the offering of our Mass. Please include your deceased loved ones in our Altar List of the Dead. “It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead” O Lord, we praise and thank you for the gift of our loved ones who have died and whom we remember during this month of November. We thank you, compassionate God, for walking with us in all the dark moments of our grief and loneliness. Even when we find it hard to see you, we know and trust that you walk beside us and, in the Resurrection of Christ, Your Son, the victory of love in Jesus Our Lord, you give us a reason for living, a reason for hoping. Lord, continue to be a light for us, giving us direction and courage in this difficult time. Help us to bring light and hope to others. Amen. |