Brigitte Williams
This ritual meant to tell us that there was a blessing for us coming from the dead. The blessing wasn’ t to be a kind of magic, but we were asked to think of our relationship with the dead. We should ask us what the dead person wanted to tell us, what had been important in his or her life, how his faith had given him strength in life. All Souls wants to invite us to remember the dead, so that they would be a blessing for us.
But this festival also wants to tell us something else, it says: You don’ t live alone, the dead are the roots of our life, and we can see that they accompany us in our life. We live in a community with them, our community does not only consist of our living family, but also of those who went before us. They can be a backbone for us. This is important these days when many feel alone and deserted, & loneliness can become a reason for depression.
There is a cemetery in the small town of Bosau in North Germany, where you find inscribed on the gate:“ na hus”, it says,“ going home”, it wants to tell the visitor not to be afraid but that at the end of his path or life he’ ll find his home. When going through the cemetery, you might think on those that are buried there.
Who were they, what have they believed, what had been their hopes in life, maybe some had led the life of a Saint? We think of those people as Saints who had a special relationship with God and in their lives, this was shown like a light. Christians have honoured people like these as shining examples, not only those that were martyred but those who were examples of the love for their neighbours.
We also are reminded to think of our own death and to live life more intensively. As I know that my life is limited, I try to relate to others in a way that remembers it could be the last time we are meeting, so I don’ t want to talk superficially but with love.
The festivals of All Saints and All Souls belong together, like the‘ quick and the dead’ belong to one community of the Saints.
Brigitte Williams
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