Celebrating the communion of saints

Today is All Souls Day, and mum and I went for mass and visited the columbarium at Saint Teresa’s this afternoon. I sometimes wonder if everyone in my family has already made it out of purgatory, but just to be sure, I still pray for all my deceased family members. As P puts it, double tap.

The insight that came to me today was that my Dad has been busy praying for all of us although I never put much thought into this. I still remember one conversation we had not long after which he passed on. He told me one of his biggest regrets and worries is that he could not see me married (actually one of my biggest regrets is that he was not here to walk me down the aisle when I eventually did get married). I said why, I was happy where I was. He replied, “Who is going to look after you when I am gone?” I was immediately insulted, outraged and extremely touched all at the same time. I, of course, retorted that I could take care of myself. But the insight into my father’s heart was priceless for he was not one to articulate feelings of love.

That I am married today is definitely due to his prayers for me. Thank you, Dad, for always looking out for me, and for praying for me, and for loving me so much - still. I am glad that we are still connected to each other and that I can look forward to a time when we will all be reunited in eternal life, the gift of love that the Father wants to bestow on all of us.

As Father A said, today is a day of celebration. I celebrate the lives of all those who have gone before me, people I still love and miss a great deal. I give thanks that they were a part of my life and that they continue to be an integral part of my life, albeit in a different way, for our hearts still connect in prayer, whether I pray for them or them, me, and especially at the celebration of the Eucharist every single time. *

*Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 962: "We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always [attentive] to our prayers" (Paul VI, CPG # 30).