Sullivan notes that All Souls’ Day follows All Hallows’ Eve and All Saints’ Day, and that while saints are a recognised group of exceptional believers in Christian tradition, the church makes space to honour all its dead. She argues that death does not erase character faults or past actions, and that genuine remembrance involves integrating a person’s contradictions into memory, including their foibles and failures, struggles and vulnerabilities alongside their virtues. The column also observes that for mourners, the most beneficial eulogies often portray the real person, and that such recollection cuts both ways, reflecting the mourner’s own shortcomings in the relationship.
Columnist Jane E Sullivan urges honest remembrance of the dead for All Souls’ Day
A reflection on holding the whole person in memory, failings and all
In an opinion piece published in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, columnist Jane E Sullivan writes that All Souls’ Day, observed on 2 November, invites people to remember not only the virtues of their dead loved ones but also their flaws and contradictions, and to acknowledge their own imperfect roles in those relationships.
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Analysis
Why This Matters
- The piece touches on a cultural discomfort with speaking honestly about the dead, inviting readers to consider how they remember and are remembered.
- It highlights the democratic nature of a church tradition that includes all the faithful departed, not only those recognised as saints.
- Sullivan’s reflection may resonate with readers grappling with grief and unresolved relationships.
Background
All Souls’ Day is a Christian observance on 2 November dedicated to prayer and remembrance for all the dead. It concludes a three-day period that begins with All Hallows’ Eve (31 October) and All Saints’ Day (1 November). The tradition stems from the Catholic Church and is observed by several denominations.
What to Watch
- Whether this year’s All Souls’ Day prompts wider public discussions about grief and honest eulogies.
- How the piece is received by readers in Australia, where The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald are based.
- Potential follow-up columns or letters to the editor responding to Sullivan’s arguments.
Sources
- Remembering the dead, in all their glory and their failings · The Age
- Remembering the dead, in all their glory and their failings · The Sydney Morning Herald
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedJane E Sullivan urges honest remembrance of the dead for All Souls’ Day.The Age - Latest News: “That’s fair enough, honest recollection cuts both ways. As we commemorate All Souls’ Day, let’s truly remember our loved ones.”
- SupportedThe piece reflects on holding the whole person in memory, failings and all.The Age - Latest News: “A genuine remembrance, however, involves integrating a person’s contradictions into our memory. It means putting their foibles and failures, their struggles and vulnerabilities, alongside their virtues”
- Partly supportedThe opinion piece was published in both The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.The Age - Latest News: “Remembering the dead, in all their glory and their failings Jane E Sullivan November 1, 2026 — 5:25am”
- SupportedAll Souls’ Day is observed on 2 November.The Age - Latest News: “In the Western Christian calendar tomorrow – 2 November – is All Souls’ Day.”
- SupportedAll Souls’ Day invites people to remember dead loved ones’ virtues as well as their flaws and contradictions.The Age - Latest News: “It means putting their foibles and failures, their struggles and vulnerabilities, alongside their virtues, their triumphs, and what made them lovable.”
- SupportedThe piece says mourners should acknowledge their own imperfect roles in those relationships.The Age - Latest News: “Our own merits and shortcomings are seen, revealed in the context and history of the relationship.”
- SupportedIn Christian tradition, saints are a recognised group of exceptional believers.The Age - Latest News: “Over time customary usage came to refer to a rarefied group of exceptional individuals, officially recognised by the church.”
- SupportedThe church makes space to honour all its dead.The Age - Latest News: “And there’s something democratic about the church making space to honour all her dead.”
- SupportedDeath does not erase character faults or bad actions.The Age - Latest News: “Death doesn’t erase character faults or bad actions.”
- SupportedGenuine remembrance means integrating a person’s contradictions, failures and vulnerabilities alongside their virtues.The Age - Latest News: “A genuine remembrance, however, involves integrating a person’s contradictions into our memory. It means putting their foibles and failures, their struggles and vulnerabilities, alongside their virtues”
- SupportedFor mourners, the most beneficial eulogies often portray the real person.The Age - Latest News: “It’s striking that often for mourners the most beneficial eulogies portray the real person.”
- SupportedRemembering the dead also brings the mourner’s shortcomings in the relationship into focus.The Age - Latest News: “Our own merits and shortcomings are seen, revealed in the context and history of the relationship. That’s fair enough, honest recollection cuts both ways.”