Commemoration of the Dead
July 8, 2026 - The 14th Wednesday in Ordinary Time
Continuing with your reflections on the Roman Canon we have now arrived at what is known as the "Commemoration of the Dead.” This is the moment in the Mass where we have the opportunity to exercise that most important work of mercy, that is, to pray for the dead. The prayer itself is very simple so we need not spend too much time analyzing it. However, it is significant that it takes place immediately following our petition that God accept our present oblation from the hands of Christ (spoken of in the prayer as an Angel/Messenger).
On the surface it is a simple moment. We ask God to recall all of the faithful departed and those who we bring to mind at that particular moment. We pause to recall all of those names that are on our heart to pray for. The petition, then, turns to why we are asking God to remember these faithfully departed. We are asking him to allow them entrance into heaven.
But here we can note two things. First, we presume to address God in this moment as an almost coy aside. It is almost as if we are saying to Christ, “since you are going to take your sacrifice to the heavenly altar, oh, by the way, can you take these petitions too, if it’s not too much trouble?” Second, we gain a clue into what we expect in heaven, specifically, “refreshment,” “light,” and “peace.” These echo the words of Christ in the gospels where he hints at what heaven is like. So, mercifully, we ask that all of our faithfully departed be given this gift. Please God, we have someone to pray for us, at this moment at Mass, when we die and go to meet the Lord.
At this moment our mind should immediately turn to those moments in Scripture where our Lord says, “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened,” and “they will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God will give them Light,” and “My peace I give to you.” These are, in part, the promises of Christ for those who persevere to the end. This then, is also a moment to ask God for the grace, for ourselves, of final perseverance.
In Our Holy Father Dominic,
Fr. Gabriel, OP
Pastor
