40 days after death

[Tis_Bearself]

I sure do wish I could see a Holy Soul around here from time to time. I know God sends them to me through the Internet and road signs and other places, but it would be less lonely around here if they were showing up in the night.

 

[XXI_4]

I am trying to figure out if it’s only Eastern churches that hold 40 day memorial masses for the deceased or if it is a general Christian tradition?

Secondly, is there any reason why there is such significance to the 40 day period?

I’m Maronite also. The specific 40 day memorial you’re talking about is Eastern. I’m not sure about all the Eastern churches, though. I can only say for sure about Maronite and Melkite. The Melkites also have an incense service at the end of the liturgy and distribute Qurban bread like you will see in some Maronite churches.

This is the best explanation I could find, it’s from a Melkite website:

40 DAY MEMORIAL FOR THE DEAD

In the Eastern Church it is customary to remember our departed brothers and sisters in a special way on the fortieth day after their death. We recall that after Christ our Savior rose from the dead, destroying death and conquering Hades, He appeared on many occasions to His disciples, especially to “the eleven,” i.e. the holy Apostles. And on the fortieth day He called them to the holy mountain, commissioned them to Baptize all nations, and to forgive sins through the Sacrament of Confession. Then, before their very eyes, He was taken up bodily into heaven where He is “enthroned at the right had of the Father.”

His last words to us were: “Behold, I am with you always - even to the end of the ages.”

Recalling His glorious Resurrection and the fulfillment of His promise to remain with us through the Holy Church, the same Church calls us, after forty days, to put off mourning. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the priest leads the faithful in prayers for the forgiveness of the sins of the departed servant(s) of God, and asks the Lord to admit his or her soul into the heavenly mansions.

This is from Fr. Tony Salim’s book about the Maronite Church, “Captivated by Your Teachings”:

…Maronites do not presume that the deceased has already entered the Kingdom, but rather that God’s mercy may, in God’s good time, welcome the departed into eternal Light. This custom is in line with the custom of praying for the Faithful Departed…

40-Day Memorial Service
The custom of celebrating the Eucharist 40 days after the death of the believer probably has its roots in the refrigerium service of ancient Christianity. The period of mourning came to last for forty days, after which the mourners shared the Eucharist; a common meal of physical and spiritual refreshment, and memories of the deceased. The number 40 is likely related to the biblical idea of 40 being a special number (Noah in the ark, Jesus’ fasting in the desert).