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From The Romero Center:

November 2 - All Souls Day
Prayer for Forgiveness on All Souls Day


Opening:
We praise and thank you, Creator God, for the story of life you have written us into. We pause to remember the lives that have gone to sleep before us, especially those whose deaths occurred before a natural end.

(Pause)

Have mercy on us. Forgive our failure to serve those who have passed from this life to the next from preventable causes. We take a moment now to reflect on a parable from Luke about Lazarus and the rich man. Help us receive this parable with open hearts, mindful of the times when, like the rich man, we have failed to serve you. Guide us as we pause for a moment of silence after the reading to reflect on those times and ask forgiveness.



Reading:
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’

Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’

He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’

But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’

He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’

Luke 16:19-31


Reflection:
In silent reflection, consider when in the past month you as an individual, and we, as a country and a Church, have contributed to unnecessary death.

Petitions:
R) Forgive us, Oh God, for the preventable deaths of our brothers and sisters.

For our failure to share with our brothers and sisters who have died from starvation, especially those who have died in East Africa throughout the past few months. R)

For our failure to commit to our brothers and sisters throughout the world who have died because of lack of access to clean drinking water. R)

For our failure to invite in our brothers and sisters who have died homeless and alone on the streets in ________ (name city near where you live). R)

For our failure to speak for our brothers and sisters, including Troy Davis, who have been executed. R)

For our failure to intervene for our brothers and sisters who were murdered, especially for those in Camden, NJ, and Detroit, MI, where there are the most murders in the United States. R)

For our failure to remember our brothers and sisters those who have died in war, including soldiers of all nationalities, targeted terrorists like Osama Bin Laden, and civilians who have been caught in violence. R)

For our failure to respect our brothers and sisters whose lives were taken from them before they left their mothers’ womb. R)

For our failure to listen to our brothers and sisters who have committed suicide or killed because they were bullied about their sexual orientation, including 13 year old Seth Walsh. R)

For our failure to care for our brothers and sisters, especially children, who have died from preventable illnesses, like diarrhea. R)

For our failure to pray for our brothers and sisters in ways that we offer now… R)



Closing:
God, we beg forgiveness for the deaths we have allowed to happen throughout the human family.

On this feast of all souls, give us the grace to commit to making daily decisions that protect life and prevent unnecessary death, especially in our purchasing, voting, and by being generous stewards of our time and resources.

We ask for the intercession of our brothers and sisters who have passed away at our own hands.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.