Monroe City and Indian Creek parishes’ Memorial Day Mass

To our departed brothers and sisters and to all who were pleasing to You at their passing from this life, give kind admittance into Your kingdom.”

Eucharistic Prayer I

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On Memorial Day, May 29, members of Holy Rosary Parish in Monroe City and St. Stephen Parish in Indian Creek, as well as guests, nearly 100 in all, gathered at the Holy Rosary Cemetery for the celebration of Holy Mass.

Father Gregory Oligschlaeger, pastor of both parishes presided, with Audrey Lucas and Austin Shinn assisting as altar servers.

The parishes gather each Memorial Day in the cemetery, as weather permits, to pay respect to those who have left this world before them, and to pray for their souls to enter the fullness of heaven through a necessary purification. For as it is said in Scripture: nothing unclean shall enter heaven (Revelation 21:27).

Receiving the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of our Savior, within the boundaries of the cemetery, allows the faithful the opportunity to connect with those members of the Body of Christ who have gone before them, and brings to mind the reality of their own resurrection day.

The tradition of celebrating Mass in this cemetery on Memorial Day goes back nearly a century, but its roots go much deeper.

In the first few centuries of the Church, Christians gathered around the graves of their deceased loved ones; many of them martyrs of the faith. They were buried in underground catacombs outside the city walls of Rome, and they were honored with the celebration of Mass. Their tombs would serve as altars.

To this day, relics of the great saints and martyrs are found within the altars of Catholic churches, cathedrals and basilicas throughout the world.

Like the fallen martyrs of the early Church, Catholics particularly remember those who bravely gave their lives serving and protecting their countries.

As one Body of Christ, pilgrims on earth pray for those being purified, and those in heaven and on their way to heaven and pray for those still making their way home.

All holy men and women, pray for us.

Mrs. Lindsay Thome is a member of Holy Rosary Parish in Monroe City. A version of this story and photos were originally published in the Lake Gazette newspaper (lakegazette.net) in Monroe City.