Catholics remember their dead Catholic traditions to remember their dead arises out of religious beliefs and also may be due to fear and guilt complex. There are elaborate rituals before and after the burial. At times the funeral arrangements are expensive to show our love. The number of invited celebrants at the mass is considered status symbol. The mass for the soul is now offered on the day of the burial, instead of after seven days. The day is advanced to facilitate the departure of returning relatives. Relatives and neighbours participate in the Rosary at the residence for 7 days from the date of death in the spirit of solidarity. The funny custom of resenting condolences in person is queer to say the least. Then the year mass is public, second year mass is low key and third year mass celebrated publicly, finally seals the fate of the soul. The Church does not give any preference in accepting offering of Masses after that. Some go on offering masses on death, birth anniversaries for a life time. The question is for how many years these prayers are a ritual necessity?.There is provision by some catholic organisation to found perpetual bourses, by which prayers will be offered at regular intervals, indefinitely ,depending upon the amount deposited .Relatives prefer at times to donate to the needy, old age homes, orphanages in their memory Birth and death anniversaries are also celebrated with close relatives , friends and neighbours.The treat to the Beggars (BIKREAM JEVON) prior to the wedding is a symbolic gestures to appease the dead souls Currently it has become a business to arrange, order a fixed number of people, who are called professional beggars , at the meal. The terms are business like with outrageous demands, which are irritating .Masses are also offered to the departed souls of bride and groom on engagement, prior to marriage
Regular and occasional advertisement of obituaries are new developments and a must, as it also serves to inform the details to a wider audience.But the effectiveness after a time is doubtful and is a mere propaganda at a cost. The significant absence of the departed is felt more by immediate family. The graves are being maintained by tastefully decorating for the first 3 years, with new restrictions, after which the Church exhumes the remains .Monuments are discouraged over the graves in the cemetery and so also purchasing, reservations of permanent family graves. Costly niches at Rs 25000= are available in the walls of the cemetery to meet these fads of gullible individuals encouraging adoration of remains and generating income for the Church. Permission is given on selective basis to carry remains and to make own private arrangements at the residences The Church has a fixed date ,November first to officially remember the departed souls in prayers. Everyone presumes that God by His mercy sends all the souls to Purgatory, a fallacy denying existence of Hell, for the cleansing process before entry to Heaven. Even those souls that are condemned eternally , enjoy the same privilege of being prayed for, but without any effect.? Priest used to offer 3 masses ,continuously for the souls, for whom, there may be none to remember and pray. The souls cannot pray for themselves any more. The custom of offering 3 masses is done away with and there is now a celebration of the Eucharist in the precincts of the Cemetery. Starting from the afternoon of the All Souls day, the bells of churches and chapels start peeling continuously after regular interval to remind. Festivities, celebrations, outings were avoided and the household was engaged in reciting 3 continuous rosaries, as many times as possible till midnight. No food was left unconsumed for the fear of visits by the souls. The tradition of offering meals to the souls is now on the wane due to constant objections of the Church, preaching against this deplorable, pagan custom abhorred by the Church authorities. The graves are decorated on all souls day with flowers available at site. There are even sponsored prizes for the best decorated graves. Various fruits, vegetables, flower pots, vases, other items etc were lifted slightly from the neighbours and raw banquet for the souls laid at prominent places like chapel and church precincts, to mark the day Presently, people build monuments in praise of the dead. Donate to charities in various forms in their memories. Establish permanent boursesfor prayers, institute chairs to propagate their ideals, found scholarships, prizes, and adopt, fund the complete education of seminarian or individuals in other streams. In the past, photographs of the dead used to adorn living spaces in homes and even garlanded, regularly adored with a lighted lamp. The activities in the names of the dead were motivated by fear , guilt, so that they may not incur their ill will. Gratitude for inheriting the wealth also serves as an inspiration, rather than true faith and belief in perpetuating the memories of the departed. Fortunately the old practices and traditions are changing sensibly and meaningfully. The best way to show our indebtedness is to demonstrate our love, affection and concern when they are alive.Treating them badly when alive and glorifying after their death is hypocrisy .Nevertheless, our faith impresses upon us that prayers are the only way by which we can reach and communicate with the departed .The notion of revenge by the souls to our welfare in any form is totally an out-dated concept , figment of our fertile imagination. Possessions and speaking in their names, exposing and demanding compliance are signs of hallucinations and which drives the living to act with fear psychosis Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
