1 February
Commemoration of all deceased Salesian Confreres
If 1 February is a Sunday the commemoration is omitted; it cannot be transferred to
another day.
In the celebration of the Eucharist the memory of our deceased confreres is not only an act of
suffrage, but also an act of thanksgiving to God for having given to his Church so many
generous men who have responded to the voice of the Lord by committing themselves to work
with Saint John Bosco, in the practice of the evangelical counsels, for the benefit of the young.
As our fathers and brothers, they have passed on to us a precious heritage. Some of them are
still fresh in our memory; others are held in benediction; and there are those whose humble
and hidden lives are recorded only as names in the Necrology.
Rather than recount the praises of their virtues, this holy assembly wishes to recognize the
good they were able to carry out in the Church through God's grace. This is an attitude which stems
spontaneously from faithful and grateful hearts also, when we remember those with whom we have
worked, believed, hoped, suffered and loved; they are an incentive to us to continue with fresh
enthusiasm in our own vocation.
The redeeming death of Christ has enlightened for us the mystery of death, and so the prayer texts
invite the faithful to make a profession of faith in the Father whose mercy knows no limits, and who
has promised unending happiness to those who seek first the kingdom of heaven (Coll.).
In entrusting our deceased confreres to the Father, the giver of life, who sustains all things by his
providence (cf Pref.), the assembly recalls that they have spent their lives in the service of the Gospel,
following the way marked out by Saint John Bosco (Coll.); and that they worked in the vineyard of
the Lord (After comm.) carrying out their pastoral ministry in the service of the young
(Offertory). For them, as they await the coming of the Lord (Sol. bless.), the assembly asks the
reward promised to faithful servants (After comm.): pardon, joy, eternal light and peace
(Offertory; Sol. bless.) and a reawakening to the glory of the resurrection (Pref.),' so as to enjoy
for ever the vision of God's countenance (Coll.).
But their memory, in the sacrifice commemorating the death and resurrection of
Christ, is also a motive for supplication that every confrere may continue faithfully on
his own pilgrimage (Coll.) in the Church at the service of the Gospel.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
We who have believed in the Lord
will one day live happily in God's light,
where Christ Jesus has prepared a dwelling place for his faithful servants.
OPENING PRAYER
Father, whose mercy knows no limit,
you have promised unending happiness
to those who seek first the kingdom of heaven.
We ask you to take to yourself
our deceased confreres (all deceased Salesians),
who have spent their lives in the service of the Gospel, following the way marked out by
Saint John Bosco; grant that they may enjoy the vision of your countenance and that we may
continue faithfully on our pilgrimage.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the
