Obligation days – All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day

Aha…I got a confession to make. I think I have never been to mass on All Saints’ Day before. I must have missed the obligation day because I probably was away in KL or just plainly forgot all about it.

However, this year, All Saints’ Day falls on a Saturday and I have lector’s duty. So, I am not likely to ‘forget’. We were reminded that we must attend both Saturday and Sunday masses as they are obligation days.

My church, Cathedral of the Holy Spirit has several masses on both Saturday and Sunday. The times are :

MASSES FOR 1ST & 2ND NOVEMBER, ‘08

Masses for All Saints’ Day
31st Oct. 8.00pm (E)

1st Nov. 7.00am (E)
12.00 noon (E)
6.00pm (E)

Masses for All Souls’ Day
7.00am (E)
8.20am (C)
10.00am (E)
5.30pm (T) cancelled

n.b. attending 6.00pm mass on 1st Nov. does NOT fulfill the Sunday obligation.

This year, I feel closer to the saints as I have known some of the saints in a ‘friendlier’ way. In the past years, saints are just some good people whom had died long time ago. This year, I have discovered who Saint Francis Assisi was (and that’s how I ended up in Mt. Miriam as a volunteer), how courageous Saint Lillian was, what a brave man Saint Nicholas K (my church’s patron saint who is a Thai) was and I am beginning to know Padre Pio or Saint Pio. So, it is a blessing that my lector’s chief put me on duty for the noon mass on All Saints’ Day. (this to clear any misconception that I can put myself on any duty I like since I am the one doing the duty roster)

I have gone through the readings for All Saints’ Day and I think it is amazing how God has chosen His people, including you and I. The reading from the Book of Apocalypse revealed to me who the saints are. “they have been through the great persecution” so says the Lord to John.

Meanwhile, for All Souls’ Day….I wish I have a grave to go to on this day. However, there is none. So, I put my son’s name in the list of deceased people at the register in Mt. Miriam because they are doing the prayers for the deceased souls every day.

Again, I thank God that with each passing year, I am beginning to learn more and more about Catholicism in my journey.

31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

I feel like the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15, verse 31.