The Book of the Names of the Dead

Remembering our loved ones throughout November

Join us in remembering and praying for those we love who have died.

Throughout November, our Book of the Names of the Dead will remain on its podium before the altar. You are warmly invited to inscribe the names of deceased family members and friends, whether your loss is recent or many years have passed.

The book reflects an ancient Christian tradition of recording the names of the departed so they could be remembered in the prayers of the Church. Adding a name is a simple act of love and faith, inviting our parish community to pray together for those we hold dear.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

The tradition of dedicating November to the faithful departed grew from two important observances in the Catholic calendar. All Saints' Day, November 1, honours those who have entered heaven, while All Souls' Day, November 2, is devoted to praying for those who have died, particularly souls undergoing purification before entering eternal life.

Around the turn of the eleventh century, St. Odilo, Abbot of Cluny in France, established November 2 as a special day of prayer for the faithful departed in the monasteries under his care. The monks already prayed for deceased members of their communities and their benefactors, but Odilo sought to extend this remembrance to all the faithful departed, including those who might otherwise be forgotten. By placing the observance immediately after All Saints' Day, he connected the celebration of those already in heaven with prayers for those still awaiting its fullness. The custom gradually spread throughout the Western Church, and over time, the entire month of November became associated with remembering and praying for the dead.

Rooted in the Catholic belief in the Communion of Saints, this tradition reminds us that the bonds of faith and love are not broken by death. Through our prayers, we entrust departed loved ones to God's mercy and ask that they may share fully in the promise of eternal life.

You are welcome to pause before the book, write the names of your loved ones, and spend a quiet moment in prayer.