All Souls and the Sabres

A plaque in a Parisian church.

All Souls is the third day of our autumn triduum of All Hallows, All Saints, and All Souls. As we took the time to poke fun at death on Halloween, and as we remember the work of the saints on All Saints, on All Souls we remember many of those who are close to us who have died and now live with Christ.

Tomorrow night we gather for the cathedral's All Souls Requiem at 7:30 pm. John will be thurifer for the first time, and many of you have said you are coming. Afterwards we will go to a local pub to watch the remainder of the Sabres game.

Many of you have commented about how much you liked last year's Requiem. It is curious to me, for it is another example of how people in their 20s and 30s are really looking for mystery when it comes to the church.

Tomorrow night's liturgy will feature the Cathedral Choir of Men and Girls, and the setting for the Requiem is by Gabriel Faure. There is no prelude or postlude, but rather the evening begins and ends in silence, and the names of all of those who have been buried from the cathedral during the past year will be read during the prayers of the people. This list of names is traditionally called the necrology.

Remember it is a hockey night, and so the parking enforcement downtown will be very strict. If you park in the Main Place Mall Garage, the cathedral will validate your parking. Simply bring your ticket stub, and someone will stamp it following the liturgy.

See you tomorrow night.

Paul +