of what he has given me, but instead that I raise it up on the last day. This is the will of the Father, that whoever sees the Son
and believes in him shall live eternal life; and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Reflection

The tradition of commemorating the
dead during the month of November goes back toward
the end of the eleventh century. Abbot Odilo of the
great French Abbey of Cluny introduced the festival of All
Souls in 998 for members of his own religious order.
Later, in the 14TH century, All Souls was adopted by Rome
for the entire church. It is dedicated to the memory of
all the faithful departed. Why do we bother to remember
the dead who probably are now enjoying themselves
in the company of saints? It is because love keeps our
connection alive with each other. Since they formed part
of our life experiences, they could never be forgotten.
And so, All Souls are members of our family, our
neighbors and friends, our ancestors, that form “cloud
of witnesses” who followed the will of God while alive,
shared it with others already on earth, and continue to do
so now before the throne of the Lamb in heaven.