Remembering a Life in the Time of Corona Virus

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Remembering our dear departed ones in this time of pandemic is a great challenge and brings a heavy emotional burden especially for those who have just lost the lives of the person they love due to Covid-19.

It was just recently when I visited Davao Memorial Park with my family. The place looks very quiet and has an inviting calmness. It invites me to stay and linger a little longer. The calmness and quiet surroundings are that kind which brings a person to reflect on thoughts about life, death and life ever after.

Looking back then, when the world has not known Covid yet, All Saints Day which is celebrated on the first day of November and All Souls Day celebrated every 2nd day of November would always be a holiday everyone is looking forward to. People would go home to their provinces to visit the graves of their loved ones. Anticipating a mini family reunion, they would prepare all kinds of food especially that food which is the favorite of their dear departed ones. People would bring these foods to the cemetery and share meals with their relatives whom they have not seen for quite some time now. They will all be filled with joy, laughter and sense of belongingness as they converse about memories and experiences back to the time when their loved ones were still alive. Mostly funny experiences are recalled and you can see the excitement in the eyes of everyone in the family who is eager to hear how each one has been doing in life. Through a simple “kamustahan”, each one shares what they have been through and what they are looking forward to. After a short “chit chat” or “tsismis” in our local dialect, families would then help each other paint the tombstones and clean the graves of those people special to them who have gone ahead of life on earth to a life of eternity.

Finally, as the day dawns to a close, everyone would gather around the tombstones. Each one would light a candle and offer flowers. This is a solemn part of the mini family reunion because the gathering would conclude to the offering of prayers for their loved ones. This act of praying together is what keeps the family bond strong. Even though fate and the urgency to earn a living will bring distance to each one of the family members, prayer closes such distance. It is the powerful force making each member of the family feel the need to be back home.

By going to the cemetery and praying together, we satisfy the yearnings of home and our departed loved ones are brought back to life in spirit. Physically, they may not be around us anymore. We may not touch them as we used to but in the hearts of those who love them, they will forever be alive in memories, in our hearts and in spirit.

Covid-19 brings an unprecedented impact to our lives and the way we pay tribute to our loved ones. We cannot physically gather anymore as one family. We cannot share meals and simply enjoy each other’s company. Restrictions are in place to prevent Covid transmission and most cemeteries if not all are closed on November 1 and 2. Remembering the Saints and our dear departed might be very untraditional in this time of pandemic but still is possible. We can have online family gatherings through Zoom or google meet and pray together just like what we used to do before pandemic. We can still offer flowers and light candles for our departed loved ones when we get the chance to visit them on days when the cemeteries are open to the public. We can also do prayers and lighting of candles in the comforts of our homes in front of the altar. Most importantly, we can hear mass whether physical or online and offer the mass for those who have gone to a life of eternity. The traditions associated with All Saints Day and All Souls Day may not be the same anymore and we will never know if things will ever be back the way they used to be pre-pandemic but the essence is still very much alive. The essence of these important occasions is remembering the dead and honoring the Saints through our Prayers.

On this note, I would like to quote the words of my elder sister which is inspiring for me and also makes me believe that as Christians who believe in life after death, we should also be positive towards death and towards living a life not only for the good of ourselves but for others as well. To quote, “We must live passionately while alive regardless of what the present condition is, but at the same time we also look forward to the afterlife”. (Gwendeline Panes Rodulfa)