‘Remember saints, dead not only during Undas’

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Cathedral vice rector Fr. Vicente Gabriel Bautista said that while the first two days of November are special holidays to commemorate those who have passed on, the saints and the dead can be remembered any day of the year.

“We in the Church celebrate a saint or several saints who died, who did a remarkable thing on a certain day, so every day we are led to remember the value and life of a saint. Much as well as our faithful departed, when we pray our personal prayers, rosary, celebrate masses, every devotion (we can pray for them). We are not restricted to Nov. 1 and 2 to pray to the saints and pray for the faithful departed,” Bautista said.

“More than the rosary, the Holy Eucharist is the perfect way for us to pray for our faithful departed. Every time we celebrate the liturgy of the Eucharist, we remember the faithful departed. It is always a two-part, remembering the living and the dead,” he added.

On Nov. 2, the cathedral will open to the public a crypt that serves as the final resting place of former Manila archbishops, including the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, Michael O’Doherty, Gabriel Reyes and Rufino Santos.