November- Prayers Of Remembering

This month we join in prayer with and for those who have gone before us. We come together as a family to remember our roots. We recognize that our lives can become richer by remembering these people through prayer and story during this month. Special days times to remember our loved ones include:

All Saints Day (November 1) — a day for remembering people from our Christian history whose lives continue to teach us.
All Souls Day (November 2) — a day for remembering those people who have gone before us and have added to our lives.
Veterans Day (November 11) — a day for remembering those who have represented the ideals of justice and freedom.

Preparation:
Gather saint stories, pictures, statues and/or old family pictures. Place the pictures and a candle in the center of a table.
Opening Song and Prayer
All sing or recite:
For all the saints who from hard labor rest,
Who their great faith to all the world confessed,
Your name, O Jesus, is forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Leader: God, you have sent many people before us to show us the way to you. Help us to remember together the goodness of their lives.
Scripture Reading
Dearly beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall later be has not yet come to light. We know that when it comes to light we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him keeps himself pure, as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)
Remembering
Invite family members to tell stories of the lives of the saints especially those saints whose names are in the family. Invite family members to tell family stories from the old pictures brought to the prayer time. This is a wonderful time to include grandparents. These stories celebrate the goodness of the lives of those who have gone before us.
Litany Of Praise
From the remembering stories, share in a litany of prayer.
Example: Holy Mary, Pray for us; Grandpa Joe, Pray for us.

Our Father

Closing Prayer
Join hands around the pictures to pray the Our Father.

Divide the prayer among family members.
God’s reign is for the poor in spirit.
God’s reign is for the humble.
God’s reign is for those who search after justice.
God’s reign is for those who seek peace.
God’s reign is for those who love the poor.
All: Let us ask God to strengthen us so that we too can follow the way of those who have gone before us. Amen.