all saints day

It's All Saint's Day today, a holiday to remember family and friends who have died.
Amy, Elise, Michael and I walked up to the nearby cemetery and took a stroll through this morning.


There was a quiet festival feeling in the air.
Cars were lined up to enter, some with lawn chairs piled on top.

We passed a long row of vendors, selling everything; flowers, Pepsis, candles, snacks.

Even Dunkin' Donuts had a booth.

People had set up awnings to spend the day at the graves,
and others had tents; they had spent the night.
Still a few others had slept inside elaborate mausoleums complete with a/c and TVs.

This pavilion was being set up for a 9 a.m. Holy Mass service.
And at 7 o'clock tonight there will be movies on some sort of big screen.

Can you see all the graves up on the hillside? There were lots of people there, too, walking around the graves, cleaning them, and leaving flowers and candles.

In a culture where relationships are so important, it's not too surprising that a day like this is reserved for such devoted remembrances.

For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 15:53-57