November Memorial Mass
CAFOD holds a special Memorial Mass on All Souls Day to pray for our supporters and loved ones who have died.
Here at CAFOD we hold all our supporters, volunteers, staff, and those we have worked alongside overseas who have died in our prayers.
We also pray for their friends and family and for all those who mourn, that they may find comfort in this difficult time.
You are the Resurrection and the Life
Christ Jesus,
You understand the pain of loss,
the grief that seems to take
the air from my lungs.
You are the Resurrection
and the Life.
All our hope is in you.
Lord Jesus,
may I find a way through
the darkness
to the light of your love.
You are the Resurrection
and the Life.
All our hope is in you.
Christ Jesus,
you wept at the death of your friend, Lazarus.
Now your compassion wipes the tears from our eyes.
May we find comfort in reaching out to others
who feel lost and alone.
You are the Resurrection and the Life.
All our hope is in you.
Linda Jones/CAFOD
The burden of grief
“You have turned my mourning into dancing, you have stripped off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. ”
When the burden of grief is heavy,
lighten our load and lift our spirits.
When despair darkens our horizon,
shine forth your light and lead the way.
When our hearts feel broken,
comfort us and hold us in your embrace.
When we rage against the injustice of loss,
channel this power into all that is good.
When sorrow surrounds us,
wrap us in hope that we may endure.
When we are overwhelmed in the dark of night,
may the breaking of dawn bring peace.
For we know, O Lord, our God,
that you hear our cries for help,
and so we ask you to
turn our mourning into dancing,
to take away our sadness
and to clothe us with joy.
Amen.
Catherine Gorman/CAFOD
Prayer for those who mourn
Bless those who mourn, eternal God,
with the comfort of your love
that they may face each new day with hope
and the certainty that nothing can destroy
the good that has been given.
May their memories become joyful,
their days enriched with friendship,
and their lives encircled by your love.
Amen.
Vienna Cobb Anderson, from Prayers of Our Hearts (1991, Crossroad Publishing Co.)
The light of God's promise
May you be held by the God of compassion
as you remember your loved ones today.
May God be with you in your sorrow,
and comfort you in your loss.
May your God, your family and your friends,
give you strength and confidence.
May your spirit be lifted, may your heart be filled with peace,
and may the light of God's promise fill you with joy and hope.
Amen.
Hold me to your heart
God of compassion,
when I feel helpless in my grief,
hold me to your heart.
God of gentleness,
in those moments when life is dark,
keep me close to you.
God of comfort,
when I am overcome with sadness,
shelter me under your wings.
Ever-faithful God,
help me to find reassurance and hope
in these words of hope to all your people -
"Because you are precious to me,
because I love you,
there is no need to be afraid,
for I am with you." (Isaiah 43)
Margaret Lillis/CAFOD
God of our longing
God of our longing,
hear our prayers
protect our dreams,
and listen to our silent hopes.
Deal gently with our pain,
speak to our sadness,
and remove the barriers
that imprison our spirit.
Shed your light
where shadows are cast,
that we may feel your warmth
and know your presence.
Give us courage
to hold fast to our vision
that we may build our world
and create our future.
Amen.
Annabel Shilson-Thomas/CAFOD
Lord of life and love
Lord of life and love,
as we give thanks for times past,
grant us courage to embrace the present
and grace to share the future.
In memory of loved ones dear,
kindle their flame to shine in the dark
and light the path ahead.
Show the way that leads to life
as we cherish days gone by
and inspire us with the touch of love
that faith and hope live on.
Annabel Shilson-Thomas
Compassionate God
Compassionate God,
as your outstretched hands held a crucified world,
so let our hands convey the touch of love.
As you embraced our vulnerability
so cradle our hopes and fears.
Reach out to our frailty,
release our painand in your tenderness,
bring health to our brokenness
that, in our weakness, we may find strength
and, in our poverty, the unfurled riches of your resurrection.
Annabel Shilson-Thomas/CAFOD
A step along the way
This beautiful reflection, with words often attributed to Saint Oscar Romero, encourages us to consider the contribution we can all make to build a brighter future for generations to come.