Today is the 2nd All Souls Saturday. The Divine Liturgy will be offered at 9:00 a.m. Remembering our beloved dead at the Divine Liturgy on these All Souls’ Saturdays is a supreme act of Love and Justice.
At every Divine Liturgy, we saying the profession of the Nicene Creed, “I expect the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.” Our saying that our deceased loved one has “fallen asleep”, is a biblical echoing of the words of Jesus, who said of his friend Lazarus, when he was about to raise him from the tomb after four days: “our friend, Lazarus, is asleep ” (John 11:11).
Finally, one of the spiritual works of mercy is praying for the dead. That is, we ask for the Lord’s continued care for our loved ones. See 2 Maccabees 38-46.
BYZANTINE CATHOLIC PRAYER FOR THE DECEASED
(Attributed to St. John Chrysostom)
O God of all spiritual and corporeal beings,
You trampled death, broke the power
of Satan and granted life to the whole world.
Now, O Lord, grant also rest to the soul of
Your departed servant N. in a place of light,
freshness, and peace, where there is no
pain, sorrow, or mourning.
As a gracious God and loving mankind, forgive him (her)
every transgression committed by him (her)
in word, deed, or thought, since there is no
man alive who has not sinned. You alone
are without sin and Your justice is everlasting
justice, and Your word is always the truth.
For You are the resurrection, the life and
the rest of Your departed servant N., O
Christ our God, and we render glory to You,
together with Your Eternal Father, and Your
most Holy, gracious, and life-giving Spirit,
now and ever and forever. Amen.
