Remembrance of the dead
(and other things…of course)
There are many things about the Catholic faith that trouble many Protestants. We have devotion to the saints, and especially towards the Blessed Mother. We ask them to accompany us in our lives to pray for us and with us to bring us into deeper union with the Holy Trinity, with Christ Jesus. We understand that there is only one ‘Body-Of-Christ’ and in that Body, includes all who have died in the love of God. For Catholics this is obvious, for those other Christians it can seem bizarre, pagan, something to be avoided at all cost. While many non-Catholics understand the Catholic’s church understanding of our relationship with those who have died, there are many more that do not, cannot and for some, simply will not. I think that is ok. I think I have hit my head against bricks enough in my life. When you hit your head against a brick wall, the only thing that changes is the injured, bloody, skinned forehead.
Once a month our community has a day on which we remember and pray for those who have gone before us. Not just for members of our community, but for all who have died. Many believe that after death, we are in union with God. Well, I guess you can say we are always at union with God, for in Him we live and move and have our being. Yet there may be no personal relationship on any one person’s part. Or a relationship that is held back by life’s pounding and when we sin in response to the harshness of life, we wound our souls further.
The ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ is part of the healing process. It is a time either in this life or in the next where the soul becomes passive in the sense that God is allowed to continue his redemptive will for the soul. Which is to heal all that keeps this union with God at bay, for there comes a time when the Soul must be cleansed by the Fire of the Holy Spirit, where all that is dross is burned away in the passionate love that is manifested in the power of the Holy Spirit? It is pure grace.
So today we join our prayers with our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus and pray for all who have gone before us. I have met many non-Catholics from all denominations who also pray for those who have passed on. Many have come to this on their own, for it makes sense to them. So we pray together as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Some non-Catholics believe that if you are Catholic, well, there will be a surprise after death…..we will all go to hell. They get insulted if you call them a brother or sister in Christ, yet as far as I am concerned, they are my brothers and sisters in the Lord, no matter what they think. To be fair, we do have some Catholics who think this about all non-Catholics that they are going to be the ones to be surprised. Yes, they go to hell. It can be really silly…..perhaps we are more childish than childlike.
It is amazing how strong beliefs can make us really ‘stoopid’. By that I mean we force our minds to smother and become hateful, mean, cruel and even sadistic in the name of religion. Jesus did smile and laugh, he also wept. I wonder what he is doing with all the silly nonsense that goes on between, different Christians. Of course, politics makes us just as ‘stoopid’ I believe.
Hmmmm lets me see, sports may do that at times. How else would middle-aged overweight men paint their bodies with war paint and dance half-naked in front of millions of people on TV….though this kind of ‘stoopid’ is really benign as long as they don’t try to kill people on the opposing team's side. This does happen in other parts of the world.
Yeah, we really need to pray for one another….I am the one first in line for that need of prayer. I can go crazy over a little league game, though I doubt I will every put war paint over my body and dance in front of millions of people. That would scare the little ones for sure.—Br.MD
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Prayer for the dead
(community day of remembrance)
Lord today we pray for those who have gone before us,
those we know and those we do not, our Christians brothers and sisters,
and all those who have died seeking love, truth, and justice in this world. For those who have loved truly, yet need further mercy, healing, such is the work of your grace.
Each moment is yours, as is each soul,
all are known and loved by you, such is your heart,
eternal, and infinite in love
and compassion for all….beyond
understanding, who can grasp it.
So, Lord, we place all before you, their lives,
their sufferings, their losses, sins, and virtues,
for all is seen by your loving gaze.
(All that is their workmanship will be evident, because the Day
will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. (1 Corinthians 3:14)
These flames are your mercy, how deep it cuts, bringing out
all that needs healing and mercy, self-knowledge is a painful journey,
yet necessary for our union with your Infinite purity and love.
Teach us all to have compassion
as well on the living, deepen our understanding
of the struggle we all have, and the weight of what that implies….
.give us all empathy for one another, and leave off judgment,
for only you can judge truly, for you see all and understand all……
human vision is limited and in judging, we wound our souls deeply,
for only you are the true judge.
So we pray for all, no one left out since all souls are
each loved uniquely by you. Amen—Br. MD
Prayer for the dead
(community day of remembrance)
Lord today we pray for those who have gone before us,
those we know and those we do not, our Christians brothers and sisters,
and all those who have died seeking love, truth, and justice in this world. For those who have loved truly, yet need further mercy, healing, such is the work of your grace.
Each moment is yours, as is each soul,
all are known and loved by you, such is your heart,
eternal, and infinite in love
and compassion for all….beyond
understanding, who can grasp it.
So, Lord, we place all before you, their lives,
their sufferings, their losses, sins, and virtues,
for all is seen by your loving gaze.
(All that is their workmanship will be evident, because the Day
will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. (1 Corinthians 3:14)
These flames are your mercy, how deep it cuts, bringing out
all that needs healing and mercy, self-knowledge is a painful journey,
yet necessary for our union with your Infinite purity and love.
Teach us all to have compassion
as well on the living, deepen our understanding
of the struggle we all have, and the weight of what that implies….
.give us all empathy for one another, and leave off judgment,
for only you can judge truly, for you see all and understand all……
human vision is limited and in judging, we wound our souls deeply,
for only you are the true judge.
So we pray for all, no one left out since all souls are
each loved uniquely by you. Amen—Br. MD
