One of the small delights in life is to discover who the composer was for a quotation that you have liked for a long time. That happened for me as I sat down to write this reflection for this special day in the Church calendar, namely “All Souls Day.”

The words I have in mind are these: “We have loved them during life; let us not abandon them in death, until we have conducted them by our prayers into the house of the Lord.”  Beautiful thought, is it not?

I found those words years ago on the reverse side of a memorial card for someone. But that placement did not acknowledge the author. Nevertheless, I have often used them on the occasion of a funeral. Only recently was the mystery solved, when Archbishop Wenski of Miami quoted them and cited the author. They are the thoughts of no less a person than the great fourth century bishop of Milan, St. Ambrose.

St. Ambrose, as a Doctor of the Church, fought tirelessly against the Arian heresy prevalent in his time. He also was the bishop who baptized his prized pupil, St. Augustine, after having instructed his famous convert in the Faith.

I also prefer to think of St. Ambrose as the presider at many a funeral in his diocese of Milan, where he led the prayers for his people, the survivors.

Not only did Ambrose hold dear the Church’s teaching about life after death, but he was also a sensitive soul attuned to the situation. His words come down to us as consolation for mourners at a funeral at any time and place. They also provide motivation for such people going forward with their lives. Remembrance of their lost loved one in such a way keeps them alive in their hearts.

Ambrose’ own priestly heart was grounded in a faith perspective of the world around him. His vigor in defending the authentic Church teaching against the prevalent heresy was also part of him as a leader. The words he wrote on the occasion of a funeral had to spring from his personal prayer life. Combined with his diligent studies and his role as a teacher, they come down to us as a practical part of his heritage.

No doubt Bishop Ambrose struggled, as we all do, to maintain our faith and equilibrium in the face of a loved one’s “passing.” He also knew the need to call on that faith when our hearts are broken. That is precisely because “we have loved them in life.”

Allow me to close these thoughts of mine with an invitation to think along with St. Ambrose and apply his words to all the faithful departed, known and unknown: “We have loved them during life; let us not abandon them in death, until we have conducted  them by our prayers into the house of the Lord.”

God love you and give you, His peace.

Rev. Peterson’s Reading & Gospel Summary

Reading I: Wisdom 3: 1-9

Wherever they are, the dead are protected by God’s power.  Any suffering of the righteous can be seen as a form of “divine training” and purification.

Reading II: Romans 6: 3-9

All the baptized are freed from the bondage of guilt, and so they die to their former life apart from Christ.

The Gospel: John 6: 37-40

The human will of Jesus and His divine will are in perfect harmony.  “Eating the bread of life” is a metaphor for believing in Jesus.