As I write this pastor's column, we are in the midst of having four funeral Masses in four days. After being made aware of a funeral Mass at St. Mary's in Hot Springs last week where I was told there was a large gathering of family of the deceased, Richard West, but only four or five parishioners from St. Mary's there, I witnessed, in our church on Monday, the funeral of Robert Kindelsperger a longtime parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish where only three family members were present and around twenty from our parish family. I decided then, and even more so after Dale Auten's funeral on Tuesday (where there were more VFW members than Sacred Heart members present), that I would devote a column again to the importance of our parishioners coming and participating in the funeral Masses of our brothers and sisters in the Lord. When Jesus said in the sermon on the mountain, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted, he was referring not only to comfort coming from God, but also comfort coming from his faith-filled followers (who are truly blessed for just being there). Participating in funeral Masses heeds one of the corporal works of Mercy (to bury the dead), and also two of the spiritual works of mercy, (to comfort those who mourn and pray for the living and deceased).
In the earliest days of the Church, Christians literally risked their lives to make sure a deceased brother or sister in Christ was liturically cared for and was given a proper burial. Obviously, we are under no such peril when we come to a funeral Mass, though in these COVID times we do have to take more precautions to protect ourselves and potentially those around us. There's also the opportunity at funeral Masses to hear scripture passage and sing songs that strengthen us in our hope of Resurrection and life after we breathe our last breath in this world. Perhaps coming to funeral Masses of not only people we know but also people we have never met can remind us of the life we are called to live as followers of Christ, knowing that we have a chance, (always with the grace of God) to change where we need to change and strengthen the good that we are doing as baptized and confirmed believers.
We are truly blessed with a varity of bereavement people (including our Ladies of the Sacred Heart and Resurrection choir) who are involved in a wonderful and often needed ministry in this parish. I pray that more of you will reflect on the blessings that come to and through those who participate in the final liturgical rites of their brothers and sisters of the Lord who have passed from life into or toward the life that is with our crucified and risen Lord and all the saints forever!
In the earliest days of the Church, Christians literally risked their lives to make sure a deceased brother or sister in Christ was liturically cared for and was given a proper burial. Obviously, we are under no such peril when we come to a funeral Mass, though in these COVID times we do have to take more precautions to protect ourselves and potentially those around us. There's also the opportunity at funeral Masses to hear scripture passage and sing songs that strengthen us in our hope of Resurrection and life after we breathe our last breath in this world. Perhaps coming to funeral Masses of not only people we know but also people we have never met can remind us of the life we are called to live as followers of Christ, knowing that we have a chance, (always with the grace of God) to change where we need to change and strengthen the good that we are doing as baptized and confirmed believers.
We are truly blessed with a varity of bereavement people (including our Ladies of the Sacred Heart and Resurrection choir) who are involved in a wonderful and often needed ministry in this parish. I pray that more of you will reflect on the blessings that come to and through those who participate in the final liturgical rites of their brothers and sisters of the Lord who have passed from life into or toward the life that is with our crucified and risen Lord and all the saints forever!