Homily: All Souls/Day of the Dead
by Fr. William Holtzinger
Nov. 2, 2004

Today we celebrate All Souls Day or “The Day of the Dead.” It is the third of three days for special prayer in the Church. On All Saints Day, yesterday, we prayed for the intercession of those in Heaven. But since we don’t know all who is in heaven, we pray for all those we love who have died in our families and friends, and we ask God to purify them so that they can be in heaven. This process of purification is called purgatory.
Purgatory is much more a process than a place or time. For example, does anyone know where purgatory or heaven is located? How long does one spend in purgatory or heaven? None of us truly know the answers to these questions. Again, that is why it is better to think of purgatory and heaven as events rather than places where we spend time.
So, if someone is in Purgatory, we should rejoice and continue to pray for them. It is the place where the “Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples...” where “he will destroy the veil (of our sins) that veils all peoples” (Is 25:6). It is a place where the only exit is heaven where there will be no more death or suffering, tears or pain. Today we should pray for our loved ones that they may be given the gift that Jesus spoke to Martha about: the gift of resurrection and life in heaven. May we all receive that gift.
And so for the next several minutes, I invite you to spend time in silent prayer. Offer the names of your loved ones in your hearts to God. Let us pray for the washing away of their sins. And then let us lift them up as we lift up the Eucharist, the bread of life who is Jesus, and in whom we place all our hope. Amen.