Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 3 (EMN): Joining the rest of the world, St. Francis de Sales (SFS) Parish, Kohima town, observed All Souls' Day on November 2 at the common graveyard near BSF Camp, Keyake in Kohima.
Celebrating the Eucharist on the occasion, Rev. Fr. Alex Gwatilo Tep, assistant priest of SFS parish, in his sermon said praying for the death has been in practice even before the comings of Jesus, despite the fact that many think that prayer for the death was brought by Catholicism or Christianity.
"It is holy and wholesome thought to pray for the death that they made be free from their sins," he said while making a reference from the Bible.
Fr. Tep stated in many Naga tribal culture, there is a belief that the deaths are still living in some far-off places and that they visit people during festivals; because of which people still have the practice of leaving their share of food in the graveyard.
Similarly, he said that the Catholic Church also prays for the departed soul everyday during the Eucharistic celebration.
While many Christians believe in death, judgement and heaven and hell, the priest said the Catholics believe in purgatory where souls are purified for the heavenly abode.
"On this day, we pray very specially for those souls in purgatory so that through our prayer, God may forgive them and receive them into the company of the saints in Heaven," Tep said.
He expounded that the feast of All Souls' Day also reminds about the reality of death and that there is certainty that "we will die one day as this world is not our permanent home."
"Death is harsh and painful but the good news is about Jesus - He has promised us that He is the resurrection and the Life," the main celebrant said, adding, "Everyone who believes in the Son of Man should have eternal life," he said.
The Mass was concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Mhabemo Mathew and Rev. Fr Christudas, SDB.
A couple of days ahead, SFS parishioners also conducted cleanliness drive in preparation for the Eucharistic celebration at the burial site, a resting place for hundreds of departed from different denominations and religions.