All Souls Day

The following text was taken from a book written by Saint Ambrose, bishop, on the death of his brother Satyrus.

It was by the death of one man that the world was redeemed. Christ did not need to die if he did not want to, but did not look on death as something to be despised, something to be avoided, and he could have found no better means to save us than by dying. Thus his death is life for all. We are sealed with the sign of his death; when we pray we preach his death; when we offer sacrifice we proclaim his death. His death is victory; his death is a sacred sign; each year his death is celebrated with solemnity by the whole world.

What more should we say about his death since we use this divine example to prove that it was death alone that won freedom from death, and death itself was its own redeemer? Death is then no cause for mourning, for it is the cause of mankind's salvation. Death is not something to be avoided, for the Son of God did not think it beneath his dignity, nor did he seek to escape it.

Death was not part of nature; it became part of nature. God did not decree death from the beginning; he prescribed it as a remedy. Human life was condemned because of sin to unremitting labor and unbearable sorrow and so began to experience the burden of wretchedness. There had to be a limit to its evils; death had to restore what life had forfeited. Without the assistance of grace, immortality is more of a burden than a blessing.

When we consider our sister in Christ, Wauneta, who is passing from this earthly life to His heavenly kingdom, let us rejoice and sing praises. Remember David's most ardent wish: One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I shall pray for; to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, and to see how gracious is the Lord.