When a person is alive, he has an identity and he is referred to with a name.
As long as that person is alive, his existence and presence are acknowledged by a name.
But somehow, upon death, when a person passes on, he is not identified with a name.
Terms such as “the body” or “the corpse” are used instead.
The change in identity, as well as existence, is actually quite drastic, together with the nagging question of what happens to a person after death.
Today we remember the souls of the faithful departed.
The word “souls” imply that the departed exist and they are alive, but not in this world.
Our faith tells us that the souls of the departed are in the hands of God, and He is the God of Life.
Today we remember especially the souls in purgatory, and we assist them with our prayers, that they will be purified and see God face to face and rejoice eternally in His love.
Yes, we remember the departed not as dead bodies without any existence, but as souls with names.
That is why when we offer Mass for the departed, we write in their names, we acknowledge their existence and it is a living existence.
May our prayers help the souls in purgatory to be purified and to be received into the presence of God.
The God of life and love will wipe away the tears from their eyes and may they rest in peace.
God will also wipe away the tears from our eyes as we pray for the souls of the departed with faith and hope.