I just celebrated a funeral for an elderly woman who died after a long illness. Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other family members and many friends were in attendance. During the funeral, the family members unashamedly shed many, many tears, and they wept out loud as they lovingly clung to each other for strength and support. At the conclusion of the funeral, some family members came forward to the microphone and spoke very lovingly about the woman, their mother and their friend, who they obviously loved so much. As they processed out of the church and prepared to take their much loved mother and grandmother to her place of rest, the tears continued to flow; one of the daughters put her arms around her mother’s casket and she wept as she held onto it tightly, crying out at the same time: “please don’t leave us, mommy.” Not an eye was dry, including mine, as they all departed. I’ve witnessed this type of great love and raw emotion many times over the years, yet when I’m there again, it always seems like it is for the first time. As sad and as painful as the funeral is, I am so blessed to have the opportunity as a friar and as a priest to celebrate the lives of those who have been loved so much.
Requiem Aeternam dona eis, Domine,
et lux perpetuae luceat eis.
Requiescant in pace.
Amen.
