Last Tuesday, we started the Lenten retreat called From Here to Eternity: How to Live and Die Well. During this first session, I covered our Catholic belief in the resurrection and the communion of saints and how those affect our approach to death itself. If we know we are destined for eternity life, then the time we have here on earth needs to be understood in light of that reality.
Furthermore, when our loved ones die, they leave us physically, but we believe they still live with us spiritually. We often hear that the body contains the soul, but it is the other way round—it is the soul that contains the body. As John O’Donohue says, “In birth we become a traveler from the invisible to the visible. In death we become a traveler again and move from the visible to the invisible. We are no longer bound by space or location.” The reality of eternal life gives us hope beyond the grave and allows us to remain in spiritual communion with our deceased loved ones. I prayed the prayer of commendation that we use when a person gets anointed and close to death, often called “Last Rites.”
Prayers of Commendation of the Dying:
I commend you, my dear brother (sister),
to almighty God
and entrust you to your Creator.
May you return to him
who formed you from the dust of the earth.
May holy Mary, the angels, and all the saints
come to meet you as you go forth from this life.
May Christ, who was crucified for you,
bring you freedom and peace.
May Christ, who died for you,
admit you into his garden of paradise.
May Christ, the true Shepherd,
acknowledge you as one of his flock.
May he forgive all your sins
and set you among those he has chosen.
May you see your Redeemer face to face
and enjoy the vision of God for ever.
R. Amen.
This speaks of the reality of death being a transition into eternal life. Then our role is to help our loved ones with that transition. In that sense, I compared our role to being a midwife to those who are dying, helping them be born into eternal life.
Next week, we will continue the conversation about this midwifing process and how we can be better prepared for it and thus allow our loved ones to die peacefully and faithfully. It requires of us to be self-aware of the process of dying and be humble enough to accept our limits. Please invite someone to join you and come join us for second session at 7-8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22. If you cannot make it in person, then watch it livestream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2s1If607gQ&list=PLBYk-FkQ5YIwT27GI1MCzoSjQKuaIAR6T&index=3
Also some parishioners have asked about the Pilgrimage to the Holy Land that I am leading September 27—October 8, 2022. If you have never been to the Holy Land, it is a wonderful experience and the best of pilgrimage sites. You will never read the Scriptures the same way again.
Pilgrimages are journeys to sacred places to deepen our faith through prayer and experience. People have been taking pilgrimages for centuries and as a result have been inspired into a deeper relationship with Christ and his Church along paths of new discovery.
The Holy Land is the “promised land” where God led Moses and the people of Israel. It is the site where Jesus Christ was “made flesh and dwelt among us!” From Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee, from Bethlehem to the Holy City of Jerusalem, we will see with our own eyes the places made holy by our Lord. We will have the opportunity to reflect upon God’s love for us at the sites connected to the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. These places will stir our hearts, deepen our faith and increase our knowledge of Christianity and our Catholic heritage.
This will be a time for each pilgrim to grow more deeply aware of God’s merciful and loving embrace and a journey that is grace-filled and life-changing. I invite you to consider participating in this amazing experience! The deadline for the pilgrimage is coming soon and we have limited number of places.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan