All Saints' and All Souls' Days
It's hard to miss the Halloween celebrations, or as we know it in our tradition, the Eve of All Hallows. This night precedes two great Catholic feast days: All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2).
- All Saints' Day calls us to remember and celebrate all the canonised saints who offer us ways to see the Kingdom of Heaven made present in our world.
- All Souls' Day invites us to remember and celebrate all people who have died - both named and unnamed, and especially those close to us.
In the Catholic and Mercy tradition, praying for the living and the dead is one of the spiritual works of mercy. While this is something practised all year, it holds a special significance throughout November.
We invite you to remember and celebrate all those gone before us, and to pray for and with them. You may also like to light a virtual candle at the tomb of Venerable Catherine McAuley and ask her to join you in your prayer to God.
Click here to light a virtual candle
So we pray…
Loving God,
source of all goodness and light,
As the world around us bursts into Spring and the days grow longer,
we pause in this season of Allhallowtide to feel the powerful connection of your entire family.
We thank you for All Saints' Day, celebrating all your holy people,
those with famous stories and those known only to a few.
We ask you to inspire us, the Mercy community of OLMC,
to be everyday saints: to choose courage over comfort, kindness over judgment,
and to embrace the new life and hope of this season
by working for justice in our local community and in our world,
modelling the generous spirit of Jesus in everything we do.
We then turn our hearts to All Souls' Day,
remembering with deep love everyone who has completed their life on Earth,
especially our family members, friends, and all the faithful departed who are dearly missed.
We pray that they are resting fully in your peace and in the embrace of your endless mercy.
Strengthen our faith in the Communion of Saints, reminding us that whether on Earth or in Heaven,
we are one community, bound together by the unbreakable promise of Christ's love.
Help us to live in a way that honours their memory,
carrying forward their love and legacy until we are all united with you forever.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, who makes all things new.
Amen.
Venerable Catherine McAuley - pray for us.
Mother Ursula Frayne - pray for us.
Mother Basil Emoe - pray for us.
Image: https://www.mercyworld.org/catherine/introducing-catherine/tour/?srsltid=AfmBOopqRcMOT0d1XpkM3S8BSYCe3wMOitHfoFzMhbniobaPc02k8-hI
Used with permission.
