This morning after Mass, we processed to the cemetary while the monastery bell rang the "death toll" (the toll that is rung when a brother dies). At the cemetary, at the graves of our deceased brothers, we sang the In Paradisum from the Requiem Mass, and prayed for their souls.
May the Angels lead you into paradise;
may the martyrs greet you at your arrival
and lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem.
May the choir of Angels greet you and like Lazarus,
who once was a poor man, may you have eternal rest.
Today is All Soul's Day. It is the day we remember our faithful departed who are in purgatory (in other words, they have not reached heaven, nor have they gone to hell). Catholics believe that purgatory is a state of purification for the soul that is not properly disposed to be in the presence of God. This is called the Church Suffering. We, the Church Militant (the living), have the responsibility to pray for those in purgatory so that they may become the Church Triumphant (those is heaven).In Latin countries, November 2 is also know as Dia de los muertos.
