A MEMORIAL MASS

We attended a memorial mass last weekend.
Officiating were a Jesuit and two Capuchin priests from a nearby monastery.

The deceased was a friend who has passed away some weeks ago, a Nun who had lived a long, full life and who had extended a needed hand of friendship to us many years ago.

The setting was the chapel in the residence of her Order in Detroit, Michigan.

We’re Episcopalians and I think the only non-Catholics present.
We attended because we were invited; we wanted to be present to honor our friend; and we were curious.

We had skipped the rosary right after our friend’s death. But we attended the Mass.

Our services, the Roman and the Episcopalian, have many features in common – and, depending on the individual Episcopalian, even many beliefs in common.

What interested me was the ease with which the priests ‘talked’ to/with the Saints, with the departed, with Mary, the Holy Mother.
And the order of the service; the Eucharist; the readings; the prayers were familiar.

At the reception after the service, there was wine, and the Jesuit raised his glass in a toast to the Dear Departed Sister, and we all drank to her and he asked her to pray for us, to help us to someday be able to join her.

It was impressive, the idea of ‘a cloud of saints around us’ as we prayed.

And then, some days later, I visited The Anchoress at the site linked to below, and read her post Who Needs the Saints?

Even the comments make for powerful reading.

I think that we touched something or some things good at this event.
And the posting at The Anchoress is a nice touch.

Check it out at http://theanchoressonline.com/2009/01/25/who-needs-the-saints/.

I am thinking that it is good to engage in a variety of things/activities when possible. I am sure most folks already know this.
I need reminding.

Life is not always a bed of roses, but there is a lot of important stuff going on which while not always fun and games can help us get on with our lives in meaningful ways.