Monday, November 03, 2008

All Souls Day

Yesterday after Mass and their monthly group piano lesson, Will and Mary and I hopped on the METRO and went to Arlington National Cemetery. Thousands upon thousands of brave American soldiers, sailors, and Marines are buried in straight rows. This hallowed place is quiet and leaves me with the questions, "What would our country be like if these men had lived? What would the world be like if they had not fought?" I think that we might be better off with more heroes in our midst and their succeeding generations, but our world would be dominated by fascists and dictators and we would be in more peril today that we could possibly imagine.


Unfortunately, I didn't check the hours Arlington was open until we got into the visitors center and realized we had 35 minutes before the gates were locked. Quickly we used the grave locator on the computer, booked down Eisenhower Drive as fast as 8 year old legs could go and were able to pray a Hail Mary for my sweet, dear grandfather and all our family and friends that have left this world for the next.




We did make it over to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and watch the Marine guard for a while in silence before jumping back on the subway riding to Union Station for a bite to eat and home again for baths and bed. We will certainly go back during our stay here, to visit, stroll, and remember.

Eternal rest give them, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shone upon them.

May they rest in peace.

Amen.

2 comments:

Karen said...

Are you aware that traditionally All Souls Day would have been moved to today because requiem Masses are not to be said on Sundays (a feasting day)? I say this because *I* was not aware, lol, until someone else told me. Many of the TLM communities are not celebrating ASD until today.

kat said...

"Indulgenced Acts for the Poor Souls A partial indulgence can be obtained by devoutly visiting a cemetery and praying for the departed, even if the prayer is only mental. One can gain a plenary indulgence visiting a cemetery each day between November 1 and November 8. These indulgences are applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory.

A plenary indulgence, again applicable only the Souls in Purgatory, is also granted when the faithful piously visit a church or a public oratory on November 2. In visiting the church or oratory, it is required, that one Our Father and the Creed be recited."

God is very understanding I am sure of mothers with lots of little ones who make the effort on November 2 to visit the dead, especially when November 3 is filled up with school, a new babysitter, and a 3 hour trip to the hospital for an OB appt. I know the SSPX calender stated that All Souls Day was moved to November 3, but lots of FSSP parish priests wore black on Sunday.