Here is a prayer for The Feast of All Souls, on November 2nd.

We re-member ourselves today
to those who have died,
gone before us marked with the sign of faith,
and to those whom we entrust to the faith of God,
extravagant in mercy and generous in love.

We re-member ourselves today
to those who were especially dear to us,
and who still live in our hearts
where we rendezvous with them in love.
Our grief and gratefulness are our gift to them
and to you who blessed us with their presence.

We re-member ourselves today
to family and friends whose love was constant,
who stood beside us, walked with us, and saw the best in us;
those with whom we shared laughter and tears,
failure and success, heartbreak and delight.
Cherish them on our behalf and wrap them in your affection.

We re-member ourselves today
to those whom we did not know personally
but whose example of dignity, integrity, compassion,
and service challenged and encouraged us,
and to those whose art, words, movement, and music
inspired, enriched, and uplifted us.

We re-member ourselves today
to those who have died by violence or war.
Only you can undo the damage done. Show them
love. Show them the other as your sacred image.
Bring them together in your peace which outruns our rage,
agony, bitterness, and grief.

We re-member ourselves today
to those who died young or unexpectedly
and entrust them to your tenderness and generosity.
May they continue to grow and flourish in you.

We-remember ourselves today
to those who have died before we could say
what was left unsaid, before we could forgive
or be forgiven, entrusting to you the healing of wounds
and the reconciling embrace we never knew.

We-remember ourselves today
to those trapped in the valley of the shadow of death
who took their own lives, too pained,
tormented, or disconsolate to go on,
the possibility of joy hidden and unseen,
entrusting them to your heart of mercy, you
who have tasted the darkness that holds no light.

We re-member ourselves today
to those who died from natural disasters,
from fire or freeze, drought or flood,
earthquake, hurricane, or tornado, entrusting them
to your refuge forever.

We re-member ourselves today
to animal friends who were faithful companions
asking so little of us while giving us so much.

We re-member ourselves today
to the forests, rivers, oceans, and skies,
to the insects, mammals, sea-life, and birds
who dwelled there, who suffered and died there,
especially when due to human arrogance, ignorance,
hedonism, and greed. Kyrie eleison.

We re-member ourselves today
to Sister death, who awaits us all,
whose gift is to wake us up to that which is essential,
to teach us how to live, and to be the doorway
to lasting joy where all may be one
in the infinite and ineffable love of Love. Amen.

~ Dan, © 2019

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