All Souls’ Novena 2023
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Judas Maccabaeus Praying for the Dead
Victor Wolfvoet after Peter Paul Rubens ca. 1644
When the seed of faith is well planted in the heart, its fruits may sprout at any time, including the most difficult times of our lives. Even for people who have, perhaps, been away from the Church or have not been practicing their faith, the seed of faith in their heart may grow again within them. What is most important is to plant the seed and then let it grow in its time. I have seen something like this happen many times, such as in moments when someone faces the death of a loved one. After such an experience they come back to God and to the Church, often for good. Like the parable of the seed which fell on good soil: “And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold." (Luke 8, 8).
In the moments when we suddenly face the news of the death of a loved one or someone we know, the first thing that may come to mind is to pray for that person and for the people close to him or her. Although the pain of recent loss fills our hearts, the hope that comes from the seed of faith helps us to remember that we belong to a community of faith and that Christ is in our lives. To become aware of the presence of our faith community and of our Lord encourages our prayer in moments of sorrow. With our prayer we entrust those who have died into the hands of our merciful Lord. Moreover, our prayers are united with the prayers of the universal church in the celebration of a funeral Mass and in many other prayers that are said during the time of mourning.
The blessings that we receive from God, our Father, are always present, even in tough times. Furthermore, I wish you to know that our prayers are also with you all the time. This is the reason you are receiving this letter, to remind you that we are praying for you and for those who have left this life. In moments when you are grieving a lost one, and in other difficult times, we offer our prayers for you. Like every November, we will be remembering and praying for the souls of our faithful departed and those who were close to the deceased. In our prayers we give thanks for the achievements in life of the person who died and for the moments you shared with that person. We ask our merciful Father to welcome him or her into his bosom and into the life of the heavenly kingdom.
There are many profound prayers that one can pray, but the prayers that come from the Word of God, like the Psalms, can give consolation and hope to a person who is mourning. For this reason, I would like to share with you Psalm 130, which is often read at funeral Masses. In moments of mourning the death of a loved one, prayers that come from the Word of God can give us the strength and hope that we need. While death is painful, and in some circumstances can even be very traumatic, we can find support in the faith of the Church. Though we may not realize it, there is always someone praying with us and for us, such as we Discalced Carmelites, living our contemplative charism, praying for you in the difficult moments, regardless of where you are in living your faith. All of us have the need for spiritual recollection, that is, to concentrate our thoughts on the spiritual life. Prayer allows us to open our hearts to the spirit of consolation that God sends, to be present with those most affected by death, and to accompany the soul of the deceased in its encounter with the Merciful Father.
As the days, months, and years go by, the pain oppresses us less, and the absence becomes more tolerable, however, our dead always need our prayers. We must not forget to pray for them, and also ask them to pray for us. Our relationship with them does not end with death, but remains very much alive hoping in the Resurrection of our Lord.
Together in prayer with the Word of God, as one family, let us hope for the redemption of the deceased and ourselves.
Very. Rev. Luis Joaquin Castañeda, OCD
Provincial