Homilies for Our Faith
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY: ALL SAINTS – ALL SOULS DAY
By Fr. Abe Arganiosa
The Communion of Saints
The False Doctrine of the Antichrist: Celebration of Dead People
My dear brothers and sisters, soon we shall celebrate the Feast of All Saints and remember our departed loved ones on All Souls Day. This season invites us to reflect on God’s mercy and the beauty of our Catholic Faith.
All Souls Day reminds us of the frailty of human life. We all want to live, but we get sick, grow old, and eventually die. That’s unavoidable. Some go ahead of us; others follow later. Even with the best doctors and medicines, we cannot escape this reality.
But it is in this ordeal that our faith shines: Our Lord is the Author of Life (Acts 3:15), and He came to give us life in abundance (John 10:10). He promised immortality to those who believe and hope in Him (John 11:25). St. Paul beautifully reminds us that nothing—not even sickness or death—can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35–39).
In life or death, in sickness or in health, we place ourselves in God’s hands. We cling to Him like children to a loving Father, trusting that the One who gave us life will also give us the grace to live forever. We await the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23), which will be transformed like Christ’s glorious body (Philippians 3:20–21). One day, we shall be like Him (1 John 3:2), and we shall see Him face to face. Every tear will be wiped away, and never-ending joy will take its place. The Lord will make all things new (Revelation 21:4–5). That is His promise, and that is our hope.
God did not create us for suffering, death, or decay, but for eternal life with Him. So let us entrust our dear departed to the Lord, repeating the prayer from the Mass:
“Lord, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church.”
May the Eternal Judge look upon them with mercy and sanctify their souls for heavenly life.
These same doctrines—the immortality of the soul and life after death—also teach us about the Saints in Heaven. They are alive in God, sharing in His glory (Hebrews 12:22–24). We are surrounded by a “cloud of witnesses” (Revelation 12:1). Because of this, even while on earth, we live in communion with the Saints and Angels in Heaven.
During the Mass we declare:
“And so, Father, together with the Angels and Archangels and all the Saints in heaven, we proclaim your glory, as we say: Holy, Holy, Holy…”
We are not alone. The Blessed Virgin and the Saints watch over us. They encourage us to continue believing, even when the burdens are heavy and the pain intense. They were human like us. They suffered as we do and struggled with weakness—but they remained faithful. In their perseverance and love, they earned the crown of eternal life (James 1:12 / Revelation 2:10).
As we celebrate Halloween, may we shift our focus away from horror stories and instead reflect on the heroic, glorious lives of the Saints. Let us not dwell on dark, frightening imagery, but on the radiant lives of Saints and Angels surrounded by heavenly light.
Above all, may the intercession of the Saints help us bring our prayers to the Throne of Mercy (Revelation 8:3) every day. Together, let us pray for the souls of those who have gone before us, and for all who are sorrowing—those in darkness of mind and heart, those who feel abandoned or in despair. May they experience God’s love through the Church, through our presence, and through the prayers of the Saints.
