Prayers of SVD
May the darkness of sin
and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word
and the Spirit of grace
and may the Heart of Jesus live
in the hearts of all people.
(Saint Arnold Janssen)
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All Saints' Day
"Let's hurry to love people, they leave so quickly" (Father Jan Twardowski). The cemetery is a place where we can show love to those who have already left us. At the cemetery, we can reflect on our love for those with whom we live, as well as those who have already left this 'visible world'. We should ask ourselves if we do not go too fast through our life so that we forget about the people who live around us and those who are already in heaven. And if we sometimes do not focus on ourselves too much in order to produce and have more and more?
At the cemetery, we look at life from a different perspective - from the perspective of eternity. There, what counts is only love - NOTHING more, because - as John the Apostle wrote - "faith and hope will pass away, but love remains."
In many mission countries - in Africa and Asia - there are no cemeteries in our sense, but the dead are buried within the household. The ancestors in this way constantly accompany the family in daily life. There is also no clear border between the world of the dead and of the living. The communion with saints is more tangible than in our European countries. The relics of older family members who have fallen asleep remain in the garden. Therefore, it is easier for people to remember about the parallel world in which our saints and blessed live.
It is good that we come to the cemetery - to this special garden with our close grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters, children to light candles and pray for them. Because prayer is also an expression of the tender love for those who need it most.