Catholics pray for the departed at All Souls Day Mass

Candlelight illuminated the faces of those who gathered for an All Souls Day Mass in St. Thomas Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene to remember the lives and legacies of loved ones who are gone but not forgotten.

“We gather as Christians and Catholics, as people who believe in the resurrection,” Father Mariusz Majewski said Monday night. “Every grave here tells a story of someone who has loved, someone who had a name, a family, memories, hopes and dreams.”

Observers brought candles to light up the darkness in honor of the dead, as Catholics believe that death does not break the bond between a faithful person and Christ.

“We go through great lengths to respect the dead,” Deacon Andy Finney said. “We respect life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. Even at your death, we cradle you all the way to the grave.”

Deacon Finney added that All Souls Day also gives the living a chance to seek closure.

“We have an opportunity to console their heart and lighten it a little bit,” Deacon Finney said. “We can't cure it, we can't fix it, but praying for our dead oftentimes helps ease that pain over time because they're never really gone.”

For Mary and John Struzik, the Mass represented an opportunity to reflect.

“I think of my parents and a brother and a sister that I lost,” Mary said. “It brings comfort because everyone here is here for the same reason. Everybody's praying.”

This was the first All Souls Day the Struziks had attended since they lost two of their friends.

“The people that died the previous year are certainly thought of the most,” John said. “Everyone has a family member or close friend that they lost, so we all feel that loss.”

The Struziks said being at St. Thomas Cemetery to observe the holiday and pray for the dead brought them comfort.

“All those lives were different, but they all had similarities,” John said. “They all have people who love them and miss them, no matter what their circumstances or what their lives were like. Being Catholic, our belief is that if we are on the right path, we'll all be reunited someday in eternity.”

All Souls Day is the last of Allhallowtide observances, which includes Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve and All Saints Day. While All Saints Day honors saints who are in heaven, All Souls Day is more somber, honoring the faithful departed through observances such as erecting altars in their homes, performing acts of kindness, praying for the dead or visiting cemeteries.

The belief in eternal life also extends to those with no one left to remember them, making All Souls Day Masses a special opportunity to pray for the departed.

“If you go back and look at these graves, some of them are really old and they have no one here left to pray for them,” Deacon Finney said. “Christ made the promise that if you believe in Him and follow Him, you shall have life eternal on the day when He comes back. We continue to pray for them to help elevate them one day when Christ comes."

    Deacon Andy Finney, Father Mariusz Majewski and Deacon Rodney Geilenfeldt preside over the All Souls Day Mass at St. Thomas Cemetery on Monday night.