Tag Archives: funerals

Speak in Remembrance of the Deceased

Here are the remarks I delivered before the final commendation at my mother-in-law’s funeral today: Good morning and merry Christmas! Mary was a great mother and a great mother-in-law. There are countless examples but you only have to look to … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Catholic | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Speak in Remembrance of the Deceased

Funeral Directed

On Friday morning, my wife and her sisters gathered at the funeral home to make the arrangements for their mother’s wake and burial. I went along, as did another sister’s husband. Two of the women had been through the process … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Catholic | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Funeral Directed

Sitting Up With

Family members had started gathering for Christmas dinner when the call came from one of my brothers-in-law that our mother-in-law had passed away. He was at the nursing home with his wife and my wife. Although we all knew the … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Sitting Up With

Rest Oration

A Requiem Mass is most often a funeral Mass. The music consists of prayers for the dead as well as some standard Mass parts, such as the Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy), the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy), and the Agnus … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sleeps with the Anchovies

A local funeral home mailed a postcard to my house. They’re having a pizza party to attract potential customers. The postcard got my attention but it also made me laugh when I started thinking about what pizzas and mortuaries have … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Laugh on Glory’s Side

Bob Schriver’s family knew he was in his final hours this past week. My good friend, Fr. Ragan Schriver, told me that his dad had pneumonia. Bob hung on for a few more days and then passed away on Thursday … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Catholic | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Laugh on Glory’s Side

Where Beauty Softens Your Grief

East Tennessee PBS hosted a preview screening of “Homegoings” last week. The documentary about African-American funeral traditions will air tonight on East Tennessee PBS and most other PBS stations. PBS has built a website for the show that an educator … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Where Beauty Softens Your Grief

A Mean Joe Green

You have already heard part of the Verdi Requiem but you may not know it. His version of the “Dies Irae” hymn has been used in countless movies and trailers. I felt the power of Giuseppe Verdi’s work while listening to … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Catholic | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

And the Honor to the Lord

In the old days, the Anointing of the Sick was called Last Rites. In the really old days, it was called Extreme Unction. The sacrament is available to those who are seriously ill, not just those who are dying. My … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Catholic | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on And the Honor to the Lord

Hasten to Meet Her, Angels of the Lord

Today would have been my friend Karin’s birthday. She died on Easter Sunday. Seven months ago we didn’t think she’d live to see 2013. Yet seven days ago we were planning to send her birthday cards in the hope that she’d … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Catholic | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Resin Brand

A fire truck was in the parking lot at All Saints Church one day last week. I had stopped by the parish office to pick up a copy of the Bishop’s Appeal instructions that I would read aloud at Mass on … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Catholic | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Koch Sighting

For the past two days I’ve been trying to recall which of my high school friends dragged me to a Joan Baez concert in Central Park. I wouldn’t consider myself a fan of her music. In fact, I had forgotten that … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Catholic | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Koch Sighting

Cremation ‘n’ Burial Companies

Last night CNBC broadcast an extremely interesting program called “Death: It’s a Living.” The hour-long show was reported by Tyler Mathisen. A representative from the Aurora Casket Company said the biggest trend in caskets is personalization. The colors of their metal caskets … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Cremation ‘n’ Burial Companies

Cardinal, Arch, Bishop

A public visitation for the late Stan Musial will be held today at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. The baseball great played his entire career for the St. Louis Cardinals and became a pillar of his community. Musial died … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Catholic | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments