Halloween 2020, will be a Halloween like no other in the history of the USA. These really are frightening times for our nation and the world. We need not encourage our children and grandchildren to be “spooked” by ghosts and goblins and vampires and bats this year.
Our family knows personally of several people who have died recently from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and perhaps your family does, too. (Thankfully, we also know of some who have recovered from COVID-19.) Besides remembering lives lost by COVID-19, this is the time to remember other lives lost due to violence, accidents, or various illnesses and other conditions.
I offer you three ways that you might find comfort in your distress.
1. Music might help. To help me remember all of the saints who have died this year, I recently to listened to a recorded version of Requiem in D minor, Op. D by Gabriel Faure’ (1845-1924) and I share with you a link to a video so that you can hear it also.
Here is an English translation of some of the Latin lyrics that are comforting and uplifting during what is a sad or frightening time to many people:
“May eternal light shine on them, O Lord,
with Thy saints forever,
because Thou are merciful.
Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,
and may perpetual light shine on them.”
2. Inspirational Prose might help. To help us remember all the saints who have died this year, find some prose or poetry with strong visual images. Here is one of my favorites:
Gone from My Sight by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says, “There, she is gone!”
“Gone where?” Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” There are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: “Here she comes!”
And that is dying.
3. Biblical readings and liturgy might help. To help us remember all the saints who have died this year, turn to the ancient scripture, liturgy, and religious traditions. Try reading these aloud (either alone or 6 feet apart from others). Here is a benediction with which to close.
One Voice: With clean hands and pure hearts, hold fast to the faith of the saints who went before us.
Many Voices: In our living and in our dying, we all belong to God.
One Voice: With hopeful hearts and expectant spirits, receive the blessing of Almighty God.
Many Voices: In our living and in our dying, we all belong to God.
One Voice: Thanks be to God! Amen.