The bound between the living and the dead is unbreakable since it has been unified by Christ.
After celebrating the feast of All Saints, today, we gather in faith and pray for those who are waiting the day of the unification with Christ. The prayer is a dialogue with God and to our beloved, especially to them who are in the purgatory. Our faith also drives us to journey together with the departed people because in faith the bond between the living and the dead is unbreakable since it has been unified by Christ. He redeems our sins, and in our life after death, he wants to unite us in his love.
The commemoration of all the faithful is a special moment for the Philippines' people, especially for the Christian Catholic people. At this moment, they spend the time to visit the cemeteries to pray, sing, and share the life of their beloved departed. They usually start the visitation on November 1 during the Solemnity of all saints and continue to the commemoration for all souls day on November 2. Even before the first of November, they would start to clean and repair the tomb. Filipinos give their respect to the member of the departed family by cleaning and repairing it as a symbol of honor. In the prayer, the journey and the relationship are going on. It is based on their belief that the bond between the living and the dead is still connected with the prayer as an instrument to unite all the faithful.
Before the visitation, people are preparing themselves to visit the grave of their family. From their home, they start praying for their beloved departed, preparing special dishes to bring to the cemetery as a remembrance to the beloved ones when they were still alive. Candles are lit in their houses and each candle represents each soul to whom they are praying. The flower gives meaning to respect and pray for them to feel the scent of heavenly life. By preparing these things, Filipinos welcome their family. Even though there is no touch and see each other, the faith unites us.
Special intentions for the souls during the mass are offered. It must be done because the prayer said in the mass is the most important thing for the souls since the mass is also a way to unite ourselves with God. That is why we can find many names (if it is said during the mass) or envelopes (consist of name and letter for the beloved) during the mass of all soul days. As a communal moment, all souls day likes a reunion day where families gather and spend a day or night around the tomb praying, eating, playing card games, singing, etc. For them, this celebration is very important because it is a day to honor and to remember their beloved ones.
In this special moment, as a community, the Xaverian International Theologate Community was visiting the tomb of Fr. Everaldo, SX, and Bro. Martin, SX. Even though they are not with us anymore, but their presence through the testimonies from the brothers is living with us. Their spirit of living the Xaverian Charism stays with us and we continue their mission in this world. People, things, and events will pass, but the memories of the beloved remain and those things will help us to unite once again even though we are separated.
