Rites and Rituals

Dear Parishioners,

October is referred to as Pro-Life month. The month of November is a month that begins with the church reflecting on the faithful departed as we celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day. We may think that life and death are diametrically opposed. But that is not necessarily the case. 

It was said once that we can tell how a society respects life by how they treat the dead. We often hear today that a consecrated host is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ. This is said to emphasize the reverence we should have for the Eucharist. Could we not say that the human person is just like Jesus in that we are made up of body, blood, soul, and spirit? Each person is Jesus Incarnate and, therefore, sacred. In the Christian mindset the body does not become less sacred at death. We believe that the body will enjoy eternal life in resurrection on the last day. 

It is for this reason we intern the mortal remains of Christians in sacred places called cemeteries. Cemetery is derived from a Greek word meaning “resting place.” The bodies of the dead will one day rise again so the cemetery is only a waiting place.

Religious ritual is meant to express our sorrow at the loss of a loved one and our hope in resurrection. We have several prayers that help us to process the mystery of death. There is a wake service that is celebrated the night before burial. We have a funeral rite with or without the Eucharist on the day of burial. Finally, we have committal prayers at the time of internment. 

Families seem less inclined to have these rituals. Also, there seems to be less of a desire to treat mortal remains with a reverence which speaks of faith in a resurrection. When we don’t engage in religious rites at the time of death a chance for spiritual consolation for the living and dead is lost.  

November is a good time to reflect on the feelings we have about death and new life. It is also a good time to reflect on what the church teaches about the need for a religious experience at the time of death.  

Blessings,

Fr. Mark