A Time of Remembrance
November means many things to people; flowering jacarandas, the Melbourne Cup and the transition from Spring to Summer. November also holds a profound place in the Christian calendar as a season dedicated to remembrance, reflection and honouring the spirit and lives of those who have gone before us. All Souls’ Day, celebrated on 2 November, marks the beginning of a month often regarded as a period of prayer and remembrance. For our community at Brigidine, it’s a time to honour those who have passed on, reflect on our own spiritual journey and contemplate on the legacy we wish to leave in the world.
All Saints’ Day, celebrated today, 1 November, is a time to remember and honour saints who have faithfully followed Christ and who serve as enduring examples of virtue, courage and commitment to God and to humanity. Their gifts, kindness and life stories stand as aspirational examples for all of us as we navigate the challenges of life.
While secular society may focus more on ‘Halloween’ at this time of the year, as a fun day for children, as Christians, we know it as All Hallows Eve, the day prior to All Saints’ Day; dedicated to the ‘Hallowed’ ones. In ancient times, festivals like Samhain (SAW-win) were held to celebrate the transition time of moving between the light of Summer into the darkness of winter when they believed evil spirits a chance to capture the spirits of people. People worked on scaring the spirits away by dressing like them and using pumpkins as frightening jack-o-lanterns to ward them off. Vestiges of these ancient practices can be seen today in the contemporary version of Halloween.
All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, set the tone for the month of November as we pause to reflect and remember. November is viewed as a time to reflect on our own mortality, on loved ones who have passed on and the ultimate hope of eternal life. Our community at Brigidine dedicates November to praying for the souls of the deceased, believing in the power of prayer to aid their journey to heaven. This tradition reinforces the unity between the living and the deceased and calls on everyone to exercise charity and compassion.
In Chapel time all students will be invited to reflect on someone that they know and write a short prayer for them. A Book of Remembrance is set up in Reception for the whole community to write down the names of those who are departed and for us all to pray for them. Parents, staff and students are welcome to drop by Reception and add names if they would like to do so.
On November 11 we will also honour the fallen in war with a short Remembrance Day ceremony at the College. All students and staff will take time to stop, reflect and fall silent in remembrance of so many who gave their lives for freedom and also in the hope for peace in our world. This will be at 10.45am on Monday 11 November on the College Green.
Remembrance is a cornerstone of our Christian tradition, deeply embedded in our thinking about the saints of the Church and in the Eucharist. November serves as an annual opportunity to pause and reflect before we celebrate the joys of Advent and Christmas later this year. Hopefully it helps to foster in our students a spirit of gratitude for life and an appreciation for all those who have gone before us and whose spirit now lives on in each of us. In a world that often rushes forward too quickly, the contemplative nature of November encourages us all to slow down, reflect and renew our commitment to a life rooted in faith, love and remembrance. It creates the chance to reflect on the enduring bonds that connect us all to generations past and those still yet to come.
Brian Loughland
Deputy Principal Faith and Mission
