Death is a taboo for Chinese people and they avoid talking about it. However, for Catholics, death is not the end, but the passage into eternal life and the kingdom of heaven. According to Catholic teaching, those who pass on may still require purification due to imperfections in their earthly lives. These souls, undergoing a final cleansing in Purgatory, are known as holy souls. In Purgatory, they are unable to aid themselves and rely on the prayers of those on earth to free them from the purifying fire and to reach full communion with Jesus Christ and the saints.
As November begins, the month dedicated to the Holy Souls, the Catholic Church commemorates two significant feast days. The first is All Saints’ Day, celebrated on November 1. This solemnity was established by Pope Gregory IV in 835 AD to honour all the saints in heaven. This feast serves as a reminder of the communion between the Church on Earth and the saints in Heaven. By commemorating the saints and treating them as models, we draw closer to Christ’s light and life, thereby strengthening the unity of the Church through our love for one another.
The second feast is All Souls’ Day, which is observed on November 2. On this day, the Diocese of Hong Kong holds special liturgies in Catholic cemeteries to remember the faithful departed. Through prayers, offerings, repentance, and acts of atonement, we assist in the purification of the souls of the deceased. We love one another, support each other, and strive to fulfill God’s greatest commandment: to love.
Through the communion of saints, we pray for the deceased with compassion and assist those who were not perfect in life in reuniting with God and all the saints, so they may enjoy eternal life sooner. The faithful can gain a plenary indulgence for the Holy Souls by participating in certain spiritual acts, such as confession, receiving the Eucharist, and praying for the intentions of the pope.
In Hong Kong, many parishes have bereavement support groups to offer pastoral care and spiritual assistance for both the deceased and their families. These groups pray for departed parishioners and provide emotional support to grieving families, helping them cope with their sorrow and find renewed strength.
Caritas Hong Kong’s Elderly Services operates the “Ning An Scheme,” which supports isolated seniors with end-of-life planning and helps them fulfill their final wishes. This initiative promotes a dignified and fulfilling life through a four-pronged approach: expressing love, gratitude, forgiveness, and saying farewell. The goal is to provide peace in the final stages of life and encourage reconciliation with oneself, others, and God.
Death is not the end. Departed loved ones become saints who silently watch over and protect us in this world. And one day we will meet again in Heaven. SE
