Commemoration of All Faithful Departed

Prayers for the dead have been a part of the Church since the very beginning, but a date for commemoration was not standardized in the West until the 11th century.

During the Reformation, some of the Reformers discarded the practice altogether, while others quietly kept it in some parishes and diocese. During the 19th century, there was a revival of the practice in parts of the Anglican Communion and in particular the formation of the Guild of All Souls.

In recent years the Commemoration of All Faithful Departed has made its way onto the calendars of many Western denominations.


All Souls Day - 2 November


Collects.

O GOD, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful: grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins; that through devout supplications they may obtain the pardon they have always desired. Who with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.

O Father of all, we pray Thee for those we love, but now no longer see. Grant them Thy peace; let perpetual light shine upon them; and in Thy loving wisdom and almighty power work in them the good purpose of Thy perfect will.Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

O God, the Maker and Redeemer of all believers; grant to all of Thy servants a merciful judgment at the Last Day; that they in the face of all Thy creatures may then acknowledge as Thy true children. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


The Epistle - 1 Corinthians 15:51-57.

Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up, in victory. 0 death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.


The Gospel - St John 5:25-29.

Jesus said unto the multitude of the Jews: Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth: they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of condemnation.


References and Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Souls%27_Day
http://www.commonprayer.org/calend/propers/all_soul.cfm
http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/11/02.html

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