When I was a child, I remember being at a funeral at St. Thomas Church in Peabody, MA and going to the cemetery for the burial afterwards. I don't remember who had died but I remember that at the grave there was a short dialog between the priest and those gathered there. It seemed that everyone knew just what to say in response - except me. This was in the days when the whole Mass was in Latin and this dialog, in English, drew my attention. I recall that on the way home from the cemetery I asked my father about what I had heard and his trying to teach me the response. That little dialog is still part of the committal rite in the Order of Christian Funerals but only our most senior brothers and sisters seem to be familiar with it.
So, I'm offering it today for your consideration - and your prayer as you remember in November those who have died. If I recall correctly, it wasn't unusual, back in the day, for the people to join the priest in the last part of this back and forth, even though that line is his in the book.
Minister: Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord.
All: And let perpetual light shine upon him/her.
Minister: May he/she rest in peace.
All: Amen.
Minister: May his/her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
All: Amen.
All: And let perpetual light shine upon him/her.
Minister: May he/she rest in peace.
All: Amen.
Minister: May his/her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
All: Amen.
I wonder how many readers here remember this prayer? How many have never heard it?
Please pray it today for those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith.
Please pray it today for those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith.
Know it well....in a way I wish it could come back.
ReplyDeleteI too am probably 'dating myself' here, however, I recollect this litany. Might I be recalling this from part of Mass as I was not at many/any cemetery services as a child?
ReplyDeleteI don't believe it was part of Mass since we know it in English and at that time, there was no English in the Mass. However I do think you might have heard it at a wake when the Rosary was prayed, as a kind of special, prayerful mention of the deceased.
ReplyDeleteOthers with better memories: what do you think?
My pastor utilizes this often at Mass, though I'm not sure I concur it's in an ideal place at the end of the prayers of the faithful. But people respond in great numbers.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, as a non-cradle Catholic from a non-Catholic family, it was something I picked up much later.
Todd
As a senior citizen, I remember it well. I wish that I could give you more specific information.
ReplyDeleteI also remember it perfectly. It came back so quickly that I'm sure that it wasn't only at funerals that I heard it because I didn't go to that many funerals! Maybe it was after praying the rosary? Sorry, but I can't remember exactly where but I know that I grew up with it and I'm 66 years old.
ReplyDeleteI also remember this prayer well, but don't remember it from wakes or funerals. At the end of the Mass (Latin) our pastor would kneel and say several prayers in English. Could this have been one? You have offered us a puzzle and I am sure someone will solve it! I hope soon!
ReplyDeleteThank you ConcordPastor for triggering/clarifying a memory. I am following up on my anonymous 11.23.07 @5:35 post.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I read the word Rosary, I could hear my father's voice concluding the recitation that our family did for a few years when I was a child after the Sunday lighting of each new Advent candle. Interesting how the melodic chant/recitation imbeds in one's mind. For some reason, Advent observance, Lent, etc. were not our norm. My family had a couple of years there when attending Mass and following the liturgical year was part of our lives. I realize now, frequently when reading this blog, what an impact that had on my development -probably positive. My father was most certainly the keeper of these traditions which oddly enough fell to the side when my mother became ill. One might think a family would have the opposite reaction to religion/faith...clinging to it in times of crisis v. closing ranks. I will never know what really happened or why. But thank you for helping me rebuild a belief system founded upon tradition that at one time held such meaning.
I thought this post was probably a sleeper, but 8 comments is an avalanche on this blog!
ReplyDeleteThe prayers in English at the end of Mass prior to the reforms of Vatican II were known as the "Prayers for the Conversion of Russia." It's very possible that priests may have added the prayer for the faithful departed at this time.
I agree with Todd that this prayer is not a fitting conclusion for the Prayers of the Faithful. All our prayers end, in one form or another, "...through Christ our Lord. Amen." This is how we pray: through, with and in Christ. Equally inappropriate is ending the Intercessions with the Hail Mary.
The Rosary connection grows stronger in my mind. Does anyone here remember Cardinal Cushing praying the Rosary daily on the radio? Am I right in thinking that somehow this prayer for the faithful departed was used on those broadcasts?
And if reading this blog helps any folks connect with their spiritual history - I am delighted!
I didn't live in the Boston area when Cardinal Cushing did his rosary radio broadcast. One thing I thought of for myself - I have prayer cards in memory of my grandmother, great aunt, etc., which include on them "Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her." For years I prayed all of the back of these prayer cards. Now I just include these loved ones in my litany, which grows longer each year.
ReplyDeletePrayer cards! Another source! Thanks for the helpful input.
ReplyDelete