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 ST.
AILBE CATHOLIC CHURCH
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| John 11:25 Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live," |
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ALL SAINTS /
SOULS DAY
The Christian holiday of All Soul's Day pays respect and remembers the
souls of all friends and loved ones . It is a time to pray for all
souls so that they may be received into heaven. Praying for
souls of loved ones helps to remove the stain of sin, and allow the
souls to enter the pearly gates of heaven. |
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All Souls Day (Commemoratio omnium fidelium
defunctorum) is the day set apart in the Roman Catholic
Church for the commemoration of the faithful departed. The
feast falls on the 2nd of November; or on the 3rd if the 2nd
is a Sunday.
The
need and duty of prayer for the departed souls has
been acknowledged by the Catholic Church at all
times. It found expression not only in public and
private prayers, but especially in the offering of
the Holy Sacrifice for the repose of souls.
In the toil of life we too easily forget
the dead, or remember them only with a sense of loss
instead of gratitude. This is an opportunity to
remember our loved ones and to draw close to them in the
spiritual bonds which according to the Catholic Church are
not severed by death, and for offering them the pious need of prayer
which, the same authority guarantees will shorten their
stay in purgatory and will open out to them the final
glory and peace of paradise. |
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Inspirational Prayers
Commemorating Our Loved
Ones
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Please
join us as we pray for the families and friends of those
who have passed on. "Eternal rest grant to them, oh Lord,
and may the Perpetual Light shine upon them. May their
souls and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace." |
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Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your
peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
Lord, grant that I may not so much seek :
To be consoled as to console.
To be understood as to understand.
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Serenity Prayer
GOD, grant me the
Serenity
to accept the things I cannot change
Courage
to change the things I can and the
Wisdom
to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at
a time;
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right if I
surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life, and
supremely
happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen
This well known prayer, The Serenity Prayer is often also
attributed to St. Francis, but the earliest known forms of it were
those written by Reinhold Niebuhr
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St. Ailbe Horizons Ministry |
This
bereavement ministry provides services and support during the
Visitation and Funeral Mass when a St. Ailbe family member experiences
loss of a loved one. They are committed to work with the family, Funeral Director and
Pastor to ensure that quality services are provided. This group's members
perform the functions of Lector, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers, Gift Bearers, and
Pallbearers during the Church funeral services.
For
additional information call St. Ailbe Rectory (773) 374-2345,
9015 South Harper, Chicago, Ill. 60619 |
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Pope
turns thoughts to death,
afterlife on All Souls Day
VATICAN CITY (AP)
USA TODAY — Pope John Paul II turned his thoughts Sunday
to death and the afterlife, urging the faithful to pray
for the dead and consider death merely a step toward
eternal life.
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| John Paul was marking All Souls
Day, a church holiday also known as the Day of the Dead, in
which Catholics are called on to pray by the graves of loved
ones.
"This invites the faithful to
look at the mystery of death not as the last word of human
fate, but as a step toward eternal life," John Paul
told a crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square for his
traditional Sunday appearance.
John Paul, 83, appeared in fairly
good form, speaking more clearly than he has in recent
weeks, although with great difficulty.
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Footsteps
In The Sand
One night a man had
a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the
LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in
the sand:one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him
he looked back, at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life
there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and
saddest times of his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD
about it:
"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome
times
in my life there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most you
would leave me."
The LORD replied:
"My son, My precious child, I love you and I would
never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering, when you see
only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried
you."
Author unknown
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St. Ailbe Catholic Church
9015 South Harper
Chicago, Ill. 60619
773-374-2345
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