In the month of November, Catholics pray for the Departed Souls and so we arranged a field trip to a local cemetery.
We walked around the perimeter of this especially scenic cemetery that has original grave sites from the 1760's. Mount Hebron Cemetery opened to the public in the 1840's and has been in continuous use since then. The trees are spectacular and the monuments, beautiful. We purchased a map of the grounds to aid us in finding the graves of notable people. It outlined the many sections dedicated to the southern states in the Civil War.
We prayed in each of the four corners, symbolic of encompassing the whole place, for the dead, especially for those who don't have anyone to pray for them.
In addition to many soldiers including those who are unknown, this graveyard is the final resting place of many famous people including Daniel Morgan, Turner Ashby, Richard Byrd, and ...
Judge Handley. This gentleman never lived in this town but generously bequeathed a fortune to build an impressive high school and the public library that both bear his name.
As a group, we visited the grave of my mother-in-law and prayed for her soul as well.
I was not able to photograph the wonderful ruins of the Lutheran church located here where we had a picnic of donuts and hot chocolate. We tried to emphasize with the kids the naturalness of life moving into death. This cemetery is peaceful, dignified and tranquil. There is nothing creepy about it.
It was a privilege to participate in a Spiritual Work of Mercy, praying for the dead on a lovely November afternoon.
