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'Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them O Lord' ‘Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them O Lord’ “Memento Mori!” It is a Latin phrase of confronting my own certain eventual which literally means “Remember to die.” death. But since no one ever has to be reminded As the days become darker and nature to die, it is most often translated “Re- dies off, as the liturgical year draws to a member that you will die.” close, it focuses us on the end: the end As the month of November concludes, of the world, the end times and our own we recall a longstanding custom that as end. We remember that one day we will Catholics, following All Souls Day, we die. Many of the great saints exhort us remember and honor our beloved dead. regularly to meditate on our death: not to While secular society is already gearing frighten ourselves or live in fear of death, up for the all- consuming “Holiday” but that we might live each day in such a consumerism, we are praying for the way that we might be prepared for death souls in purgatory, for our deceased when it comes. To “remember that you family members, and for all those who will die” is a way to remember how to have no one to remember them. Pray- live. Throughout November and beyond ing for the dead is a sign of our love, each of us is called to prepare for death our care for and our communion with by examining how we live the Gospel, those who have gone before us from this striving to be ready to meet the Lord earthly life. For years I’ve combatted the when He comes. onslaught of Christmas music in No- To be prepared for death involves not ones in making known your final wishes even choosing the readings and music vember by listening to Requiem Masses only spiritual preparation, but of course through a written Will. Often folks beforehand. How important it is to have by great composers, a way of focusing practical preparation. It is wise and will “pre-plan” their funerals, making your wishes written down, as many of us my attention on the reality of death and prudent to prepare by assisting loved the hard choices well before death, have heard of the sad stories of lifelong It is my sincere hope that with these new resources, guidance for and answers to many prac- tical questions people have will be readily available in this simple format. These resources will be available on our diocesan web site, and it is envisioned that our local parishes will make these resources readily available to all the faithful and to funeral home staffs; that they will be made available by undertakers to those whom they serve; and that they will be kept in par- ishes for helpful reference at the passing of a priest or deacon. faithful Catholics not having the benefit just such resources: two trifolds for use will be readily available in this simple of a Funeral Mass because their children by all Catholics and anyone involved in format. These resources will be avail- making the plans had fallen away from planning their funerals, entitled “Fu- able on our diocesan web site, and it is the faith. Planning for our death has a neral Mass for Catholic Faithful” and envisioned that our local parishes will practical aspect in that we help those “Funerals for Catholic Clergy.” In addi- make these resources readily available left behind to grieve our loss by lessen- tion, to assist all those who serve in our to all the faithful and to funeral home ing the burden of having to attend to so parishes, we have also developed a more staffs; that they will be made available by many necessary practicalities. detailed booklet entitled “Policy for the undertakers to those whom they serve; Over the past few years I have been Celebration of the Order of Christian and that they will be kept in parishes asked by parishioners, by laity who Funerals for Deceased Clergy.” for helpful reference at the passing of a serve in parish ministry, by deacons and “The care with which we bury the priest or deacon. priests, and by undertakers, if the dio- dead expresses our faith in the victory “Memento Mori!” We remember our cese could provide assistance by having over everlasting death which Our Lord beloved dead, we remember that we guidelines for what a Catholic Funeral Jesus Christ has won in our human ourselves will one day die, and we pro- looks like. Many of the faithful have nature by his own Death and Resurrec- vide for others the assistance to prepare requested a resource in order to celebrate tion.” These new resources describe our for and celebrate the Funeral Rites in a worthily and appropriately the Funeral Christian understanding of death and manner worthy of the deceased, worthy Rites, given frequent uncertainty of what the Funeral Rites, covering each aspect of our Catholic faith and worthy of the is correct and in light of the increasingly of the Funeral, including pre-planning, Lord. unique secular practices which do not the obituary, the vigil, rosary and other reflect what we believe. Many of the fam- devotionals, the use of the Christian ilies and parish families of our priests symbol, sacred music, words of remem- and deacons have requested such a brance, family and friends as liturgical resource in order to celebrate in a worthy ministers, the homily, cremation and the Most Rev. Daniel E. Thomas and appropriate manner the Funeral disposition of ashes. Bishop of Toledo Rites for our clergy. So after consultation It is my sincere hope that with these November 21, 2018 with a number of pastors, lay faithful new resources, guidance for and answers and local undertakers, we have prepared to many practical questions people have ‘Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them O Lord’ “Memento Mori!” It is a Latin phrase of confronting my own certain eventual which literally means “Remember to die.” death. But since no one ever has to be reminded As the days become darker and nature to die, it is most often translated “Re- dies off, as the liturgical year draws to a member that you will die.” close, it focuses us on the end: the end As the month of November concludes, of the world, the end times and our own we recall a longstanding custom that as end. We remember that one day we will Catholics, following All Souls Day, we die. Many of the great saints exhort us remember and honor our beloved dead. regularly to meditate on our death: not to While secular society is already gearing frighten ourselves or live in fear of death, up for the all- consuming “Holiday” but that we might live each day in such a consumerism, we are praying for the way that we might be prepared for death souls in purgatory, for our deceased when it comes. To “remember that you family members, and for all those who will die” is a way to remember how to have no one to remember them. Pray- live. Throughout November and beyond ing for the dead is a sign of our love, each of us is called to prepare for death our care for and our communion with by examining how we live the Gospel, those who have gone before us from this striving to be ready to meet the Lord earthly life. For years I’ve combatted the when He comes. onslaught of Christmas music in No- To be prepared for death involves not ones in making known your final wishes choosing the readings and music before- vember by listening to Requiem Masses only spiritual preparation, but of course through a written Will. Often folks will hand. How important it is to have your by great composers, a way of focusing practical preparation. It is wise and “pre-plan” their funerals, making the wishes written down, as many of us have my attention on the reality of death and prudent to prepare by assisting loved hard choices well before death, even heard of the sad stories of lifelong It is my sincere hope that with these new resources, guidance for and answers to many prac- tical questions people have will be readily available in this simple format. These resources will be available on our diocesan web site, and it is envisioned that our local parishes will make these resources readily available to all the faithful and to funeral home staffs; that they will be made available by undertakers to those whom they serve; and that they will be kept in par- ishes for helpful reference at the passing of a priest or deacon. faithful Catholics not having the benefit just such resources: two trifolds for use will be readily available in this simple of a Funeral Mass because their children by all Catholics and anyone involved in format. These resources will be avail- making the plans had fallen away from planning their funerals, entitled “Fu- able on our diocesan web site, and it is the faith. Planning for our death has a neral Mass for Catholic Faithful” and envisioned that our local parishes will practical aspect in that we help those “Funerals for Catholic Clergy.” In addi- make these resources readily available left behind to grieve our loss by lessen- tion, to assist all those who serve in our to all the faithful and to funeral home ing the burden of having to attend to so parishes, we have also developed a more staffs; that they will be made available by many necessary practicalities.
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