The Funeral Mass of the late Archbishop Emeritus of Singapore, Archbishop Nicholas Chia Yeck Joo is scheduled for Saturday, 21 December 2024 at 2 pm at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.
Rest in Peace
Passing of the Archbishop Emeritus of Singapore, Archbishop Nicholas Chia Yeck Joo at the age of 86
Archbishop Emeritus of Singapore, Archbishop Nicholas Chia Yeck Joo (謝益裕) has passed away peacefully this evening (17 December 2024) at the age of 86.
More details will be published by the Archdiocese of Singapore regarding the details of the Funeral Mass and the paying of respects to the late Archbishop Nicholas Chia.
Rest in Peace, Your Grace.
Wednesday, 2 November 2016 : Feast of All Souls, Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls’ Day (Homily and Scripture Reflections)
Liturgical Colour : Black
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day, the All Souls’ Day, we remember all of our brethren who have departed before us, all those whom we have known and have left us behind, and even all others, strangers whom we have not met, but indeed have also left this earthly life behind. Today we remember all the souls of the faithful departed, just as yesterday we rejoice together in the glory of the saints, those whom God and His Church had deemed worthy to receive directly the glory of heaven.
And today, we pray for those who have left this earthly life and yet we are not sure of their state after their earthly death, whether they would be worthy enough to merit to enter the kingdom of heaven, or whether they have to suffer in purgatory before they can enter into the kingdom of God, or whether their wickedness or sins had overcome them and made them judged to be worthy of hell instead. It is not us to decide, but God.
For many of us, our instinctive reaction upon thinking of death is fear, that is we are afraid of death, because of this uncertainty of our fate, and ultimately, of course, many of us find it difficult to part with whatever we have attained and possessed in this world, resulting in many of us trying to preserve whatever we have, our life and our youth, with many emphasis placed on trying to prolong our lives and maintaining our youthful appearances.
Many of us grieve very badly upon losing our loved ones to death, mostly because we think that we are not going to see them again, and we cannot bear to be separated from them. It is part of our natural instinct as human beings to grieve and be sad, because after all, when we are no longer able to physically interact with someone we love and care for, we should indeed feel disturbed by that new reality.
But we should not lose hope or despair, for the Lord Himself had made it clear to us in many occasions, that He has come into the world that all of us may have hope, because of His death and resurrection, which showed us all that there is a path out of that darkness and despair, the path to our salvation in our God. And that is the hope which all of us ought to remember today, even as we are saddened by the loss of our beloved.
Remember, brethren, that Christ’s death is followed by His resurrection, and He has promised us all through His disciples, that He will raise all those who are faithful to Him on the last day, and we all will be reunited with one another, with our beloved ones, with our brothers and sisters with whom we may have been temporarily separated. If we believe in this, then truly, we should absolutely have no need to fear death, be it for our own or for others around us, as it is not an end, but rather the transition and the beginning to a new life filled with new joy with our God.
Therefore, today, as we celebrate the Feast of All Souls’ Day, first of all, let us all realise that as I have mentioned yesterday during the Solemnity of All Saints, there are three parts of the Church, the Church Triumphant, consisting of the saints of God, who have been deemed worthy to enjoy immediately the joy of the kingdom of God, the Church Militant, all of us living in this world at the moment, who are living the daily struggles of our lives, and finally the Church Suffering, for whom we are praying for today.
For the Church Suffering consists of all the faithful ones who have lived in the grace of God, died in a state of grace, but which venial or minor sins have not been completely cleared and absolved from them. They are not yet able to be with God, for they cannot bring sin before God, as sin has no place before Him. Nevertheless, they have also been found worthy enough so as to escape the eternal damnation in hell, which is reserved only for those whose evil and wicked deeds truly outweighed their good ones.
So today, firstly, we have to pray for those souls in purgatory, who are suffering the pain of the holy flames of purification, enduring the consequences of their sufferings. We pray that God will lessen their sufferings and ordeal, and be willing to completely absolve our brethren in purgatory of their sins, that they may finally enter into the heavenly kingdom and partake in the glorious inheritance reserved for them.
And secondly, we should also reflect on how we ourselves live our lives in this world. The souls in purgatory knew well what they have committed in life, all the things they have done that landed them in the purgatorial flames instead of immediately enjoying the glorious heaven. And they definitely would not want us to end up where they are as well. In fact, just as we have prayed for them, they too are constantly praying for us.
Knowing just how much we all are related to each other, even beyond the realm of this world, we should all the more be more inspired to live a good and devout Christian life. We should not take chances, brothers and sisters in Christ, for what is at stake is none other than our own souls, the state of our own salvation or whether it would instead be damnation.
Let us all not wait until it is too late for us, but instead, work together and helping each other to find our way to the Lord, by doing what is right in the sight of God, by our unfailing obedience and commitment, by loving our brethren in need, be generous and be charitable in all things. And let us also not forget about our loving brethren, our beloved relatives and even strangers who are also our brothers and sisters, children of the same God, that we should offer them our prayers and for the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass to be offered for their sake.
Let us pray for one another, that all of us will eventually be able to persevere through all the difficult challenges in this world, and give our best in order to do the will of our God, be no longer lukewarm and hesitant in our faith, but instead be true disciples of our Lord, doing His will in all that we say, act and do. May God bless us all, and may all the souls of our brethren, those who are faithful and have departed, find the rest they need in the Lord. Requiescat in Pace. Amen.
Wednesday, 2 November 2016 : Feast of All Souls, Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls’ Day (Gospel Reading)
Liturgical Colour : Black
Luke 7 : 11-17
At that time, a little later after Jesus healed the servant of a captain in Capernaum, He went to a town called Naim. He was accompanied by His disciples and a great number of people. As He reached the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; there followed a large crowd of townspeople.
On seeing her, the Lord had pity on her and said, “Do not cry.” Then He came up and touched the stretcher, and the men who carried it stopped. Jesus then said, “Young man, I say to you, wake up!” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
A holy fear came over them all, and they praised God saying, “A great Prophet has appeared among us; God, has visited His people.” The news spread throughout Judea and the surrounding places.
Wednesday, 2 November 2016 : Feast of All Souls, Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls’ Day (Second Reading)
Liturgical Colour : Black
Romans 5 : 5-11
And hope does not disappoint us because the Holy Spirit has been given to us, pouring into our hearts the love of God. Consider, moreover, the time that Christ died for us : when we were still helpless and unable to do anything. Few would accept to die for an upright person; although, for a very good person, perhaps someone would dare to die.
But see how God manifested His love for us : while we were still sinners, Christ died for us and we have become just through His Blood. With much more reason now He will save us from any condemnation. Once enemies, we have been reconciled with God through the death of His Son; with much more reason now we may be saved through His life.
Not only that; we even boast in God because of Christ Jesus, our Lord, through Whom we have been reconciled.
Wednesday, 2 November 2016 : Feast of All Souls, Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls’ Day (Psalm)
Liturgical Colour : Black
Psalm 26 : 1, 4, 7-9, 13-14
The Lord is my Light and my Salvation – Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Rampart of my life; I will not be afraid.
One thing I ask of the Lord, one thing I seek – that I may dwell in His house all the days of my life, to gaze at His jewel and to visit His sanctuary.
Hear my voice when I call, o Lord, have mercy on me and answer. My heart says to You, “I seek Your face, o Lord.” Do not hide Your face from me nor turn away Your servant in anger.
I hope, I am sure, that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Trust in the Lord, be strong and courageous. Yes, put your hope in the Lord!
Wednesday, 2 November 2016 : Feast of All Souls, Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls’ Day (First Reading)
Liturgical Colour : Black
Isaiah 25 : 6-9
On this mountain YHVH Sabaoth will prepare for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, meat full of marrow, fine wine strained. On this mountain He will destroy the pall cast over all peoples, this very shroud spread over all nations, and death will be no more.
The Lord YHVH will wipe away the tears from all cheeks and eyes; He will take away the humiliation of His people all over the world : For YHVH has spoken. On that day you will say : This is our God. We have waited for Him to save us, let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation.
Cardinals Update: Passing of Cardinal Jorge Maria Mejia, Librarian Emeritus of the Vatican Apostolic Library and Archivist Emeritus of the Vatican Secret Archives (Argentina), at the age of 91
Cardinal Jorge Maria Mejia, Cardinal-Priest of S. Girolamo della Carita pro hac vice Title, has passed away on Tuesday, 9 December 2014 at the age of 91. He was the Librarian of the Vatican Apostolic Library and the Archivist of the Vatican Secret Archives from 1998 to 2003, in charge of the various collections of the Vatican and the Holy See, of documents and various other objects under the care of the Apostolic See. He was also Secretary for the Congregation for Bishops and the College of Cardinals before taking up the aforementioned role.
http://www.gcatholic.org/hierarchy/data/cardJP2-8.htm#103
Cardinal Mejia was created Cardinal in 2001 by Pope St. John Paul II in his eighth Cardinal creation consistory on 21 February 2001. His motto was “Ipse est pax nostra” which means ‘He Himself is our peace’, a reminder that our Lord Jesus Christ brings peace into the world, and in His Good News we can find true peace. It is this peace which Cardinal Mejia had worked hard for many years, and to which peace he is now going to.
We pray for Cardinal Mejia, that he will rest in peace, and God will reward him for all his hard and great work as the long time servant of God for the ministries and good works he had done for the sake of God and His people in the entire Universal Church in his dedication and work in the Roman Curia, in helping those who are dealing with health care and care of the sick around the world. May the Lord welcome him into His embrace in heaven and give him eternal rest and happiness that he deserved.
With the passing of Cardinal Mejia, and the recent aging out of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, S.D.B., the College of Cardinals now stands at 208 members, with 112 Cardinal-electors and 96 Cardinal non-electors. The number of Cardinal-electors now is 8 below the specified maximum limit of 120.
There are now 8 Cardinal-elector vacancy in the College of Cardinals, 0 vacant Cardinal Suburbicarian Sees (for Cardinal Bishops), 5 vacant Cardinal Titles (for Cardinal Priests) and 11 vacant Cardinal Deaconries (for Cardinal Deacons).
Cardinals Update: Passing of Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers (Italy), at the age of 98
Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini, Cardinal-Priest of S. Spirito in Sassia pro hac vice Title, has passed away on last Saturday, 22 November 2014 at the age of 98. He was the long time chief of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, first as its Pro-President from 1985 to 1989 and then as President from 1989 to 1996. In that position, Cardinal Angelini has a very special role to help the health care workers that are part of the Church’s vast humanitarian and charity efforts around the world. In another unique note, he was also the last of the Cardinals present in the current College of Cardinals to be born in the city of Rome in the year 1916.
http://www.gcatholic.org/hierarchy/data/cardJP2-5.htm#7
Cardinal Angelini was created Cardinal in 1991 by Pope St. John Paul II in his fifth Cardinal creation consistory on 28 June 1991. His motto was “Evangelizo Pacem Evangelizo Bonum” which means ‘I bring the Good News of peace’, a reminder that our Lord Jesus Christ brings peace into the world, and in His Good News we can find true peace. It is this peace which Cardinal Angelini had worked hard for many years, and to which peace he is now going to.
We pray for Cardinal Angelini, that he will rest in peace, and God will reward him for all his hard and great work as the long time servant of God for the ministries and good works he had done for the sake of God and His people in the entire Universal Church in his dedication and work in the Roman Curia, in helping those who are dealing with health care and care of the sick around the world. May the Lord welcome him into His embrace in heaven and give him eternal rest and happiness that he deserved.
With the passing of Cardinal Angelini, and the recent aging out of Cardinal Franc Rode, the College of Cardinals now stands at 209 members, with 113 Cardinal-electors and 96 Cardinal non-electors. The number of Cardinal-electors now is 7 below the specified maximum limit of 120.
There are now 7 Cardinal-elector vacancy in the College of Cardinals, 0 vacant Cardinal Suburbicarian Sees (for Cardinal Bishops), 5 vacant Cardinal Titles (for Cardinal Priests) and 10 vacant Cardinal Deaconries (for Cardinal Deacons).
(Usus Antiquior) Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls’ Day (Feria II Classis) – Monday, 3 November 2014 : Offertory, Secret Prayer of the Priest, Preface of the Dead, Communion, Post-Communion Prayer
Offertory
Tradition of the Faith
Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de paenis inferni et de profundo lacu : libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum : sed signifer sanctus Michael repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam : Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini ejus.
Response : Hostias et preces Tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus : Tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus : fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam. Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini ejus.
English translation
O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, deliver the souls of all the faithful departed from the pains of hell and from the deep pit; deliver them from the lion’s mouth, that hell will not engulf them, nor that they fall into darkness, but let Michael, the holy standard-bearer, bring them into the holy light which You once had promised to Abraham and his seed.
Response : We offer You, o Lord, sacrifices and prayers of praise. May You accept them for those souls whom we commemorate this day; grant them, o Lord, to pass from death to the life which You once had promised to Abraham and his seed.
Secret Prayer of the Priest
Secret for the First Mass
Hostias, quaesumus, Domine, quas tibi pro animabus famulorum famularumque tuarum offerimus, propitiatus intende : ut, quibus fidei christianae meritum contulisti, dones et praemium. Per Dominum…
English translation
Mercifully look down, we beseech You, o Lord, upon the sacrifice which we offer You for the souls of Your servants and handmaids, that, to those on whom You had conferred the merit of Christian faith, You may also grant its reward. Through our Lord…
Secret for the Second Mass
Propitiare, Domine, supplicationibus nostris, pro animabus famulorum famularumque tuarum, pro quibus tibi offerimus sacrificium laudis; ut eas Sanctorum tuorum consortio sociare digneris. Per Dominum…
English translation
Be propitiated, o Lord, by our supplications for the souls of Your servants and handmaids, whose anniversary is kept today, for whom we offer You the sacrifice of praise, that You vouchsafe to join them to the company of Your saints. Through our Lord…
Secret for the Third Mass
Deus, cujus misericordiae non est numerus, suscipe propitius preces humilitatis nostrae : et animabus fratrumm propinquorum et benefactorum nostrorum, quibus Tui Nominis dedisti confessionem, per haec sacramenta salutis nostrae, cunctorum remissionem tribue peccatorum. Per Dominum…
English translation
O God, whose mercy is boundless, mercifully receive the prayers of our lowliness, and grant, through these sacraments of our salvation, to the souls of our brethren, kindred, and benefactors, to whom You had granted the confession of Your Name, the remission of all sins. Through our Lord…
Mass for the Dead
Preface of the Dead
Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere : Domine, Sancte Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus : per Christum, Dominum nostrum. In quo nobis spes beatae resurrectionis effulsit, ut, quos contristat certa moriendi condicio, eosdem consoletur futurae immortalitatis promissio. Tuis enim fidelibus, Domine, vita mutatur, non tollitur : et, dissoluta terrestris hujus incolatus domo, aeterna in caelis habitatio comparatur.
Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus cumque omni militia caelestis exercitus hymnum gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes :
English translation
It is truly meet and just, right and profitable for us, at all times, and in all places, to give thanks to You, o holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God through Christ, our Lord, in whom the hope of a happy resurrection has shone on us, so that those whom the certain fate of dying renders sad, may be consoled by the promise of future immortality. For with regard to Your faithful, o Lord, life is changed, not taken away; and the house of their earthly dwelling being destroyed, an eternal dwelling in heaven is obtained.
So with the angels and archangels, with the dominions and powers, with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing of Your glory without end, saying :
Agnus Dei
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem sempiternam.
English translation
Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world, give unto them rest.
Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world, give unto them rest.
Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world, give unto them rest forevermore.
Communion
4 Esdras 2 : 35, 34
Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine : Cum Sanctis tuis in aeternum : quia pius es.
Response : Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine : et lux perpetua luceat eis. Cum Sanctis Tuis in aeternum : quia pius es.
English translation
May light eternal shine upon them, o Lord, with Your saints forever, for You are kind.
Response : Grant them everlasting rest, o Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, with Your Saints forever, for You are kind.
Post-Communion
Post-Communion for the First Mass
Animabus, quaesumus, Domine, famulorum famularumque tuarum oratio proficiat supplicantium : ut eas et a peccatis omnibus exuas, et tuae redemptionis facias esse participes : Qui vivis…
English translation
May the prayer of Your suppliants profit the souls of Your servants and handmaids, we beseech You, o Lord, that You may free them from all sins and make them sharers in Your redemption. Who lives…
Post-Communion for the Second Mass
Praesta, quaesumus, Domine : ut animae famulorum famularumque tuarum, his purgatae sacrificiis, indulgentiam pariter et requiem capiant sempiternam. Per Dominum…
English translation
Grant, we beseech You, o Lord, that the souls of Your servants and handmaids, the anniversary of those whose burial we commemorate, may be purged by this sacrifice and obtain alike forgiveness and everlasting rest. Through our Lord…
Post-Communion for the Third Mass
Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens et misericors Deus : ut animae fratrum, propinquorum et benefactorum nostrorum, pro quibus hoc sacrificium laudis tuae obtulimus majestati; per hujus virtutem sacramenti a peccatis omnibus expiatae, lucis perpertuae, te miserante, recipiant beatitudinem. Per Dominum…
English translation
Grant, we beseech You, o Almighty and merciful God, that the souls of our brethren, kindred, and benefactors, for whom we have offered this sacrifice of praise to Your majesty, being purified of all sins by the virtue of this sacrament, may, by Your mercy receive the beatitude of perpetual light. Through our Lord…
Dismissal (Mass for the Dead)
Priest : Requiescant in pace.
Response : Amen.
English translation
Priest : May they rest in peace.
Response : Amen.
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