Celebrating life in the face of death
Some are afraid to discuss about death. The idea of an eventual passing of a loved one is, as much as possible, something we don't want to talk about. We hate to entertain the idea that a member of our family will soon leave us. But whether we are impervious about it, we all lead to the same destination as death is inevitable.
Every year, we find time to visit our loved ones in the cemetery. It is one of the many special occasions when members of the family would gather and relish the memories of their departed. Days before All Souls' Day, preparations have been made such as making sure that the tombs and their surroundings are clean and ready to accommodate a number of relatives and visitors. Flowers, candles, and food are likewise prepared to be shared by the immediate family members and some relatives who are unanticipated to visit. And though this practice has brought positive social benefits for it strengthens social bonds and commitments since immemorial, others have made this as an occasion for unrestrained display of resources that have stripped the occasion of its very essence. Some parts of the cemetery have been swarmed by party buffs. And up until the wee hours, the merrymaking goes on. This is unmindful of others who want a serene and memorable way of remembering their departed.
The memories of our loved ones serve as our lessons to inspire to be better individuals-even better than what they were. For sure they have lessons that guide us to face our own world. We are grateful that they have left us with valuable lessons that for sure if we take them seriously would make us better daughters, sisters, brothers, fathers, and mothers. On the other hand, there are also lessons that we know repeating the same would just lead us to failure and frustration for others. Just like us, our departed ones were not perfect individuals. They also had their share of failures and limitations. And their shortcomings could also be a potent lesson. For sure, if we use or have learned from them, they would be happy for what we have become.
For Catholics, in All Souls' Day, we're talking about those people who have died before us, and their process of getting to heaven through Christ. The Catholic Church calls this purification, "Purgatory." The Catholic teaching on Purgatory essentially requires belief in two realities: there will be a purification of believers prior to entering heaven and the prayers and masses of the faithful in some way benefit those in the state of purification. It has its roots all the way back to the fourth century. It is on this day that the Book of the Dead is opened to allow parishioners to write the names of relatives to be remembered.
And for every All Souls' Day, there are many departed loved ones that I cannot just simply forget. I cannot forget my father, brother, sister, son, relatives, and friends. All of them have touched my life through the lessons they have taught me. And for every commemoration, it reminds me that their lives on Earth would be worth remembering for it is in their leaving that makes life worth living.
Though it has become an opportunity for social interactions among members of the family and relatives, but unlike other celebrations, it must be carried out with sense of solemnity to attain focus in immortalizing the memories of our loved ones.
All Souls' Day, unlike the day before it, is used to remember ordinary people who have died, not glorified "saints." And so cemeteries have become a place for the living more than for the dead. More than mourning for and remembering our dead, we celebrate life in the face of death.
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