Between religious orders, there are some that are characterized by high severity. Its members live in constant silence, work and prayer. One particularly steep religious is that its members greet each other with the words: Memento Sea! – Remember death! Cemeteries remind us of this in our towns and villages. And although there is a grave silence here, they literally scream to us alive: Remember death!

WITHHe works without rest, without stopping, regardless of whether someone is young or old, healthy or sick, rich or poor, loved or hated, ready or unprepared. This statement is also brought to us by the liturgical readings of today and warn by the words of Christ Himself: Be prepared, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not know. And indeed, death comes when one least expects it. And what will he take to the other world? Let’s try to open some graves in cemeteries. There are those who excelled in beauty – but where did it go? There are rich – but where is their wealth? There are monarchs – where is their power? There are scholars and sages – but where did their wisdom go?

Thethese considerations are also added by St. Augustine, who says: Do you possess, are you proud of your ancestors, of beauty, dignity learning? Just look at yourself and realize that you will die, you will leave everything here, you will not take anything from it to the grave. Do we understand what legacy the cemetery leaves us? Everything in the world is dying and we don’t take anything with us to the grave. Perhaps many people will be sad at these words because they find it difficult to say goodbye to the life and joys it brings. Where to seek comfort? What will ease our pain and fear? It’s a cross! Thousands of them are standing in cemeteries, and from them we speak the one who alone has the right to comfort us, because his consolation is permanent.

WITHTara legend says that when Jesus was walking with the cross to Calvary, he wanted to relax in front of one house. The owner of the house, however, took a grip on him and chased him away. When Jesus heard that he was driving him away, he looked sadly at him and went away. From that moment on, however, the man had no peace, felt Jesus’ gaze in his soul and remained very sad. He left the house, wandering around the country, but found no peace. Unhappy and desperate, he returned home. There was a cross in front of his house, where he had once driven Christ away. As soon as he saw him, he fell to his knees and hugged him. Then he felt peace in his soul. Do we feel restlessness in our hearts? Are we afraid of death? Let us stand under the cross and hear Jesus’ words: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even if he dies. And no one who lives and believes in me will die forever.

CBut the Irishman also wants to remind us today of the duty to the deceased. Maybe somebody will say: But I put a marble monument above the grave, there are always fresh flowers and lit candles. But do you think that’s enough? The deceased need spiritual monuments, flowers and candles. These are our prayers, sacrifices, holy masses, good deeds, self-denial, and indulgences that we can give them these days. After all, the Old Testament book wisely writes: For if it had not been hoped that the fallen would be resurrected once, it would have been useless and unwise to pray for the dead. Holy and religious thought! However, as we stroll through the cemeteries and see the many neglected graves, it is clear to us that those who rest there have long been forgotten. Doesn’t that affect me? Did I forget the deceased family members, friends and benefactors? How do I reward them for what have they done for me? Let us be merciful to our dead and help them. Jesus himself encourages us to say: Blessed are the merciful, for they will attain mercy.