On Sunday, November 2, All Souls’ Day, the brothers of Saint Stephen’s Convent celebrated a solemn Mass in memory of the brothers who preceded them, without forgetting the former members of the ÉBAF who have already been called to God, and all the deceased entrusted to the prayers of the Church.
This day, commonly called “All Souls’ Day” in the Catholic liturgy, immediately follows the feast of All Saints and invites believers to pray in communion with and for all those who have fallen asleep in the faith, awaiting the resurrection promised by Christ. It is a day of contemplation and hope, when the whole Church turns to God to entrust our deceased brothers and sisters to His mercy.
In his homily, Brother Martin Staszak, Conventual Prior, reminded us that remembering the deceased is not limited to mourning their absence, but is rooted in faith in eternal life: a mysterious and living communion that unites the faithful of today with those who have gone before us, in particular, in this Basilica of Saint Stephen, our brothers and sisters, whose work continues to bear fruit.
At the end of Mass, the community formed a solemn procession, joined by many faithful and friends of the School. To the sound of liturgical chants traditionally associated with prayers for the dead, the brothers went to the cemetery where our brothers and friends who preceded us in faith in God, made man, died and rose again to save humanity, are laid to rest.
In the calm of this place of remembrance, incense was offered as a sign of prayer rising to God, the graves were blessed with water, a reminder of baptism, and solemn prayers were recited for the repose of the souls of the deceased. The moment concluded with the liturgical prayer: “Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen.”