All Souls’ Day Poem by Dr John Celes

The many ones I knew are hardly seen;
My friends, relatives are in scarce numbers;
Their memories are truly evergreen;
But death has put those souls in deep slumbers!

Most near and dear and loved ones are all gone;
This world looks empty but their graves abound;
They couldn’t be saints but sinned even alone;
Their cemeteries with time are hardly found!

Yet, most had left with venial sins galore;
In Purgatory, God cleanses souls by grace;
They need our prayers to be freed much more;
Like gold refined, souls enter Heaven’s haze!

But fiery love of God can change their roles;
The ones in mortal sins are nearer hell;
God’s mystic mercy could redeem such souls;
The living souls on earth can make them well!

All Souls’ Day comes once in a year for all;
Let’s empty Purgatory by praying hard;
Let’s fast to hasten Almighty God’s call;
Recite the rosary to stay on guard!

God, send your angels soon to fetch all souls;
Their sufferings are much more than on earth;
Let light perpetual shine upon dead souls;
Take them to Your Abode and grant them mirth!

Show mercy Lord, on every soul, we pray!
Let light divine annul the hellish spray;
Forgive them, Jesus Christ, we beg to say;
Ignore their trespasses on Judgment Day!
Lovingly dedicated to all souls on ‘All Souls’ Day! ’