Southfield — Burying and praying for the dead are corporal works of mercy. Especially on All Souls Day, Catholics are called to pause and remember the dead, praying for souls in purgatory.
Such was the message given on Nov. 2 by Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron as he presided over a Mass at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, leading the congregation in prayers for deceased loved ones.
“For some, cemeteries are beautiful, meant to keep the memories of people alive; others, are just simple resting grounds for people from long ago,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “For our sake, cemeteries are sacred, second only to churches. This is a temporary resting place, waiting for them to rise on the Day of Judgment.”
Archbishop Vigneron reflected on the Gospel reading of Jesus consoling Martha after the death of her brother, Lazarus.
“It’s a simple assertion Jesus puts to Martha: ‘Your brother is alive. Do you believe this?’” Archbishop Vigneron said. “Martha said yes. Because of this confidence in Jesus Christ, his assurance, Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, that Holy Sepulchre is empty.”
By remembering the dead, and the promise that the dead will rise through the power of Jesus, Archbishop Vigneron said All Souls Day is about commemorating that promise of resurrection and immortality through Jesus.
“Jesus Christ is alive. Everything in him is immortal — it can’t be destroyed,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “The bond between you and your loved ones are indestructible. Because we, like Martha, do believe. Yes Lord, I believe. That’s why we’re here today.”
For the congregation at Holy Sepulchre, the day was about remembering loved ones who have died, and contemplating their own lives.
“I come to the Mass every year, and I’m more or less a daily visitor” said John Riordan, a Livonia native whose parents, Jeremiah and Bridget, are buried at Holy Sepulchre. “I come to keep my beloved parents’ memories alive and to pray for other souls. Some are not as frequent visitors to the cemetery, but this is an incentive, it makes you think of the dead.
“I loved hearing the archbishop talk about mercy. On a day like today, it’s a good reminder to cast aside the bickering and start forgiving.”
The service also highlighted the advantages of having loved ones buried at Catholic cemeteries, according to David Brady, outreach manager of Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services, which manages the major Catholic cemeteries in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
“Today, the archbishop talked about being buried in a Catholic cemetery, and what it means to be remembered,” Brady said. “Starting and ending with God, being buried at consecrated ground, where the rituals and traditions are understood.”
