The month of November marks the noble tradition of our faith of praying for the faithful departed in a profound way.
While Catholics take time for remembrance of our dead throughout the year, in November we pray in particular way for those whom we have loved and who have gone before us to God. In parishes, ‘Lists of the Dead’ are made available so that local people have an opportunity to write down the names of their departed, and to express gratitude for the lives while commending them in prayer to the God’s infinite mercy and love.
The staff of the Bishops’ Conference, who work in the Columba Centre, Maynooth, will once again have a ‘Remembrance Tree’ placed in the foyer during the month of November. Anyone is invited to write the name of their loved ones on the Autumn “leaves”, made of blank paper, which are placed on the tree. For those who cannot attend Columba Centre in person, email requests with names of the faithful departed can be sent to [email protected], and these names will be added to the Remembrance Tree.
Speaking about the month of Remembrance Monsignor Joseph McGuinness (pictured), the Executive Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference said, “In the Autumn time, we become very aware of the cycles of Nature as Summer ends and Winter approaches. The falling leaves are a sign of the inevitable passing of time and the changing of seasons, of an ending which also has within it the hope of new life and growth. We use the symbol of the Remembrance Tree as a way of marking the endings in our lives, when those whom we have loved have gone from us to enter new life in the infinite love of God. There is a letting go, but also a deep hope that the loving mercy of God will bring all of us together in the peace and light of his Kingdom. As we wait in that joyful hope, we keep the memories of our loved ones dear and we treasure the gifts they have given to us. The leaves of our Tree give us a focus for our thoughts and prayers in this month of Remembrance.”
A Prayer of Remembrance
God, thank you for the special people in our lives whom we are remembering in a special way during the month of November.
We thank you for being a compassionate God who walks with us in our dark moments of grief and loneliness.
We are thankful for all who continue to love and support us through our grief.
Lord, continue to be a light for us, giving us hope, direction and courage.
May we now live our lives treasuring the memories of those special people we have known and loved. May they find with you eternal happiness and peace, and help us to bring light and hope to others. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord, Amen.
