Sunday Meditation: How Can We Be Happy in Heaven if Our Loved Ones Aren't There?

Funerals turn the minds of the faithful to the four last things: death, judgment, heaven or hell. That's not too surprising when you think about it. Even those who have little or no relationship with God must think about "What's next!" when they attend a funeral. "Is this really all there is?... Where is my loved one, friend, acquaintance, colleague now?...What will happen to me after I die?" 

The Blessing of Family and a Reminder that Life after Death Goes On....

Funerals and weddings are family reunions. It was a blessing to reconnect with so many members of our extended family at my sister Jeanne's funeral last Thursday. I think she would have been pleased. Over the years she wrote hundreds of letters and cards to siblings, nieces and nephews and friends. She sent cards: for birthdays, Christmas, Valentines Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and sometimes just because. It was her little apostolate. She didn't drive and lived alone, but she spread a wide net to the outside world. 

Jeanne collected notepaper and cards and we had a big bin to set out at the wake and funeral to share. We invited people to take some in memory of Jeanne with a suggestion to write a letter to someone in imitation of her little apostolate.

Did Benedict Ask for a Funeral Using the Traditional Latin Mass?

We'll never know. If he did, the liars at the Vatican who hate the TLM would be sure to bury his request under a pile of horse manure. "Burn those papers, Judas! We can't have Benedict's wishes known to the world. More people might turn to that cursed TLM!" 

Louie Verrecchio has an interesting post on his blog, akaCatholic, The Hidden Testament of BXVI: More evidence. Check out the whole thing, but here's the relevant bit:

In the present case, it is entirely reasonable to believe that BXVI did in fact express his wishes for a simple funeral, one that avoids the spectacle of Heads of State converging on Rome from around the world such as they did when JPII died.

It's Ironic that Today's Funeral for Pope Benedict...

...takes place on the feast day of a pope martyr, St. Telesphorus who occupied the chair of Peter from 125-136 and died during the first year of of the reign of Antoninus Pius, although there appears to be some confusion since Antoninus became emperor in 138 and Telesphorus is said to have died in 136, two years earlier. 

St. Telesphorus, pray for us.