ALL SOULS DAY: CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO PRAY FOR THE DEAD, KEEP THEIR GRAVEYARDS CLEAN, SAYS CLERIC

Priests leading a mass for the departed souls at the Ediofe cathedral cemetery on all souls day

By Sunday Amandi

Arua city

As the church in the world observes all souls day today, the believers are called to use this period to saw maximum love and care for the dead by offering prayers for the departed souls and keeping their graveyards clean.

All Souls’ Day is an annual Christian day of prayer and remembrance for the faithful departed, observed on November 2,  in which Christians remember and pray for the loved ones who have died, including  focuses on the souls in purgatory who are undergoing purification before entering heaven, as prayer and offerings are believed to help these souls.

Father Walter Amagule of Ediofe cathedral parish explains the significance of this observance in Christianity, “This month of November is a special month for us to pray for our faithful departed, they have left us only bodily but spiritually, we are together with them, today we are joined together with those who are in the triumphant church to pray for these ones who are departed who cannot do anything by themselves, it is through our love that we express through prayer that they can be able to be delivered by God, and therefore it’s a responsibility of each and every Christian to pray for the dead, when we pray for the already departed souls, we are praying for their deliverance, we are praying for their salvation, but also through our prayers, we receive the graces God gives us,” Father Walter declared.

Sacred blessing of the graves at the cemetery,

Popular practices for All Souls’ Day include attending mass offered for the souls of the faithful departed, as well as Christian families visiting graveyards in order to pray and decorate their family graves with flowers, candles and incense.

Jessica Eyoru, a Christian in Ediofe cathedral says, it’s important to observe the day, and to follow its traditions,

‘I give them prayers, I keep their graves with prayers, they are maintained clean, the graves need to be kept clean, and we need to pray for their souls,” Jessica said.

Focuses on all deceased Christians who have passed away, especially loved ones who still need prayers

Written by newsroom-radiopacis