Confessional Lutheran theology, hagiography, philosophy, music, culture, sports, education,
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02 November 2015
Commemoration of the Faithful Departed
2 November
Also known as All Souls' Day, this commemoration goes hand in glove with yesterday's remembrance of All Saints' Day. In the early Church, feasts of apostles and evangelists were soon celebrated, especially those of Peter and Paul, although John and James were also early favorites.
Later, martyrs and many other canonized saints were commemorated on 1 November (All Saints' Day). The departed in purgatory were remembered on 2 November (November 3, if November 2 fell on Sunday).
Although the unbiblical idea of purgatory was rooted out of the Lutheran Church, our forefathers saw much good in a day set aside to remember those who departed in the Faith and who await the resurrection of all flesh. Many who grew up in the German language remember the day as Totenfest.
In much of Latin America, All Saints' and, especially, All Souls' Day morphed somewhat into the Day (or Days) of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). This is more of a secular festival with religious (and often superstitious) overtones which especially remembers departed family members, friends, and even pets with special altars and much feasting.
Perhaps due to an unwillingness to categorize some saints as "special" and others as "ordinary," the newest LCMS lectionary no longer lists the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. The "quiet" saints who raised, educated, baptized, or confirmed us are now remembered on All Saints' Day along with the biblical heroes of the Faith and the martyrs, missionaries, and theologians who followed them.
However, I'm of the mind that it's not "hero-worship" to give special thanks to God for the giants of the Faith and then spend the following day giving thanks for those who followed the trail blazed by them and who, in various ways, were God's instruments in imparting and strengthening our faith.
Lection
Psalm 34:1-9
Isaiah 35:3-10
2 Peter 3:8-14
John 5:24-29
Collect
Almighty God, in whose glorious presence live all who depart in the Lord and before whom all the souls of the faithful who are delivered of the burden of the flesh are in joy and felicity, we give You hearty thanks for Your loving-kindness to all Your servants who have finished their course in faith and now rest from their labors, and we humbly implore Your mercy that we, together with all who have departed in the saving Faith, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, in both body and soul, in Your eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
See the Christian Cyclopedia for more information.
Later, martyrs and many other canonized saints were commemorated on 1 November (All Saints' Day). The departed in purgatory were remembered on 2 November (November 3, if November 2 fell on Sunday).
Although the unbiblical idea of purgatory was rooted out of the Lutheran Church, our forefathers saw much good in a day set aside to remember those who departed in the Faith and who await the resurrection of all flesh. Many who grew up in the German language remember the day as Totenfest.
Perhaps due to an unwillingness to categorize some saints as "special" and others as "ordinary," the newest LCMS lectionary no longer lists the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. The "quiet" saints who raised, educated, baptized, or confirmed us are now remembered on All Saints' Day along with the biblical heroes of the Faith and the martyrs, missionaries, and theologians who followed them.
However, I'm of the mind that it's not "hero-worship" to give special thanks to God for the giants of the Faith and then spend the following day giving thanks for those who followed the trail blazed by them and who, in various ways, were God's instruments in imparting and strengthening our faith.
Lection
Psalm 34:1-9
Isaiah 35:3-10
2 Peter 3:8-14
John 5:24-29
Collect
Almighty God, in whose glorious presence live all who depart in the Lord and before whom all the souls of the faithful who are delivered of the burden of the flesh are in joy and felicity, we give You hearty thanks for Your loving-kindness to all Your servants who have finished their course in faith and now rest from their labors, and we humbly implore Your mercy that we, together with all who have departed in the saving Faith, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, in both body and soul, in Your eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
See the Christian Cyclopedia for more information.
Labels: all souls, christianity, church history, commemoration, day of the dead, dia de los muertos, faithful departed, hagiography, purgatory, totenfest
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