Dear Friends,
Our personal response to death involves many emotions, such as grief, shock and fear, and is affected by the circumstances, including whether it is expected, whether the person is young or old, whether it is particularly tragic, and whether it is someone close to us. In recent months, you may have noticed that the list of recently deceased in the bulletin and the intercessions at Sunday Mass have been longer than usual. To some extent, this reflects an ageing community, but there have been younger parishioners as well, some in tragic circumstances.
Most of us don’t experience the death of someone close on a regular basis but some losses have a lasting impact on us personally and on our families. Funeral rites vary in different faith traditions and settings but the Scripture readings are often familiar, emphasising God’s love and closeness, and affirming the goodness of a life well-lived. Good qualities are extolled and shortcomings rarely mentioned – because they don’t need to be. Those familiar with a person’s life already know the full picture, and those who do not, don’t need to know. Preparing the farewell liturgy can be a tremendous help to a family as they deal with their grief, and thankfully, the Catholic Rite of Christian Funerals provides a variety of prayers, readings and reflections.
Death and farewell are on our minds, given the public response to Queen Elizabeth’s passing and her long life and years as monarch – from people in the street to political leaders, past and present, here and overseas. Many have acknowledged her faith. Pope Francis referred to her ‘steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ’, and Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop Timothy Costelloe recalled how the Queen’s ‘annual Christmas message invariably focused on Jesus Christ as a model of humble and generous service’. Fr Peter Jones OSA, President of Catholic Religious Australia, described her as a ‘profoundly committed servant of her people and conscientious faith leader.’ Even amidst the pomp and ceremony of the Queen’s forthcoming funeral, her Christian faith will be celebrated.
The Christian Funeral is a graced moment where we celebrate the Paschal Mystery and give praise and thanks for Christ’s victory over sin and death, a time to commend the person to God’s tender mercy and compassion and bid farewell, as well as to seek strength from our Easter faith. This is the context in which we celebrate the person’s life and the way in which they have lived the Christian Life. Even where someone has struggled with their faith, signs of grace are evident in their love for family, generous service to others, and concern for those on the margins – all signs of God’s wonderful presence in each of us.
At a Catholic Funeral, the wonder of our human life becomes clearer in the religious symbols which are part of the rite, symbols of Baptism – the Paschal Candle, holy water, white pall, crucifix. Placing of appropriate, personal symbols helps complete the picture of the person’s life – photographs, rosary beads, missal, medals, favourite hat, even the footy jumper! Some symbols are more exotic but our human lives are lived ‘on the ground’ and are multi-dimensional, so we need to adopt a sensible, pastoral approach to people experiencing deep loss. In the final analysis, Jesus made the human holy and it’s people that matter! Fr Dave