Homily delivered at memorial Mass

[Maxirad]

I recently attended a memorial Mass at my local parish for an old lady who used to sit in the same pew with me and my parents. During the Mass, a deacon delivered a homily where he basically said that the lady is in Heaven, and that he knew her personally. (He often met her at a local McDonald’s establishment.) However, Michael Voris has produced a video where he criticizes what is often said at funeral Masses. The lady did seem to be quite faithful since she attended Mass practically every day. Should I be too worried about what the deacon said?

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

I recently attended a memorial Mass at my local parish for an old lady who used to sit in the same pew with me and my parents. During the Mass, a deacon delivered a homily where he basically said that the lady is in Heaven, and that he knew her personally. (He often met her at a local McDonald’s establishment.) However, Michael Voris has produced a video where he criticizes what is often said at funeral Masses. The lady did seem to be quite faithful since she attended Mass practically every day. Should I be too worried about what the deacon said?

No. People say and do things to aid the grieving they wouldn’t say or do under other circumstances. People are entitled to their opinions about what to say or not say to the grieving, but worrying about words that already have been spoken in this situation is fruitless.

When Mr. Voris buries someone he loves dearly, he can dictate what is or is not said at the funeral Mass.

Rather than worry about a homily, be proactive. Say a rosary for the woman’s soul. Have a Mass said for her. Make a donation to a Catholic charity in her name. Doing something to honor the woman and her life, however small, would say far more about your character than worrying about a homily.

Luna

 

[triumphguy]

Well the decision is not up to the deacon, so don’t worry about it.

I’m sure that if she was a faithful Catholic she is either already in heaven, or in purgatory being cleansed for heaven.

And given that there is no time in Heaven or Purgatory as we know it (being outside of time) maybe it could be said that even if she were to spend “time” in purgatory, that in our time she would both be already and not yet in heaven.

But Voris is right: we should not be afraid of preaching the truth of the Catholic faith. And I think his point is that if we water everything down, and there really is a purgatory (which we must believe) then by preaching only heaven we are depriving the souls in purgatory of prayer that could help ease their suffering.

Therefore, pray for her, that her “time” in purgatory be short and her joy great when she is welcomed into the arms of Jesus.

I will pray for her too.

ourcatholicprayers.com/prayers-for-souls-in-purgatory.html

 

[triumphguy]

Here are some good prayers for souls in purgatory:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen

O Lord, who art ever merciful and bounteous with Thy gifts, look down upon the suffering souls in purgatory. Remember not their offenses and negligences, but be mindful of Thy loving mercy, which is from all eternity. Cleanse them of their sins and fulfill their ardent desires that they may be made worthy to behold Thee face to face in Thy glory. May they soon be united with Thee and hear those blessed words which will call them to their heavenly home: “Come, blessed of My Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

 

[FAB]

I recently attended a memorial Mass at my local parish for an old lady who used to sit in the same pew with me and my parents. During the Mass, a deacon delivered a homily where he basically said that the lady is in Heaven, and that he knew her personally. (He often met her at a local McDonald’s establishment.) However, Michael Voris has produced a video where he criticizes what is often said at funeral Masses. The lady did seem to be quite faithful since she attended Mass practically every day. Should I be too worried about what the deacon said?

Although as a deacon I avoid ever proclaimig a person as a saint, but with a good , faith fulfull individual, saying they are with the Lord or trust they are in heaven is less of a problem. A woman whofaithfully attended mass every day, did the Lord’s work, I would be more than comfortable with saying they are in heaven, Certain she recieved the sacrament of the sick before dying, her sins were forgiven on this earthly existance, there is no reason to doubt she is in heaven. Voris has no training, his opinion is his opinion.

 

[etmom]

Our priest always say something like “our hope is that they are in heaven” or something similar. The only time I ever heard him say with certainty was at the funeral Mass for a baptized baby. In this case, he said the church teaches us that the child, with the sacrament of baptism and no personal sin , WAS in heaven, was a saint. It made an impression on me because I have never heard him refer to any deceased as being in heaven for certain.

 

[RogerDeCourcy]

No living man, except someone like St. Padre Pio or the Pope when he canonises someone, can say with authority whether someone is in Heaven or not.

Traditionalists call modern funeral masses ‘instant canonisations’.

In my option they perpetuate the wooly theology of the post-Vatican II era, which is essentially Protestant: “Jesus loves me despite my faults” “Only believe and ye shall be saved”.

So lukewarm Catholics are canonised from the pulpit at their funeral masses. That’s nice, except sayin’ it don’t make it so.

If you look at private revelations, a very different picture emerges.

 

[Jennet]

I can appreciate that most of the clergy wish to comfort and sustain grieving relatives at times like this, but not finding a way to them the whole truth about the afterlife is more cruel in the long run.

Whilst expressing the hope that the dearly departed is in heaven - and urging the offering of prayers lest he/she is in purgatory - it seems only compassionate to warn congregation of the reality of hell and what we, the living, should be doing to avoid it.

A dear family friend recently passed away in horrible circumstances. There was no funeral service for him as he had become very anti-religious and, I suspect, anti-God over the years. However, if a funeral mass had been said, I would have appreciated a little honesty in the homily. It would certainly have caused me to think seriously about the state of my soul.

 

[RogerDeCourcy]

Good point. If they’re in Heaven, why pray for them? So people don’t.

The insidious thing about this New Theology is that doctrine hasn’t actually changed but most Catholics either think it has or are ignorant of what it actually is. And that includes clergy.

You’re not doing people any favours by soft-pedalling doctrine.

 

[etmom]

No living man, except someone like St. Padre Pio or the Pope when he canonises someone, can say with authority whether someone is in Heaven or not.

.

So you do not believe that the church teaches an infant who dies after receiving baptism is in heaven?

 

[CB_Catholic]

No living man, except someone like St. Padre Pio or the Pope when he canonises someone, can say with authority whether someone is in Heaven or not.

Traditionalists call modern funeral masses ‘instant canonisations’.

In my option they perpetuate the wooly theology of the post-Vatican II era, which is essentially Protestant: “Jesus loves me despite my faults” “Only believe and ye shall be saved”.

So lukewarm Catholics are canonised from the pulpit at their funeral masses. That’s nice, except sayin’ it don’t make it so.

If you look at private revelations, a very different picture emerges.

While I appreciate the sentiment here, and agree with the idea that we can’t say for sure who is in heaven at a funeral Mass, I believe that “Jesus loves me despite my faults” is a true statement. He DOES love me despite my faults, that is Church teaching. He loved us enough to die on the Cross for us. However, He is not pleased with my sin, and I need to recognize my sin and repent of it. As for “Only believe…”, well, the devil definitely believes, and he isn’t saved.

 

[RogerDeCourcy]

While I appreciate the sentiment here, and agree with the idea that we can’t say for sure who is in heaven at a funeral Mass, I believe that “Jesus loves me despite my faults” is a true statement. He DOES love me despite my faults, that is Church teaching. He loved us enough to die on the Cross for us. However, He is not pleased with my sin, and I need to recognize my sin and repent of it. As for “Only believe…”, well, the devil definitely believes, and he isn’t saved.

People now believe that Jesus tolerates our faults; he’s easy going, because He loves me. Therefore a lukearm Catholic can go straight to Heaven. And never go to Hell. That’s just for unrepentant murderers, I guess

I wonder how many people go to Hell just because they’re never heard a sermon about it. Why would you bother aiming for sancity if you believe the chances of your going to Hell are slim?

 

[1ke]

where he basically said that the lady is in Heaven

What does “basically said” mean, really? To me it seems to mean he didn’t actually say that but you interpreted it that way, or maybe you read more into it than he actually said.

Did he actually say she was in heaven? Or did he say he "hopes’ she is in heaven? Or what?

What did he **actually **say?

 

[Maxirad]

I didn’t use a voice recorder during the memorial Mass, 1ke. I don’t have a transcript either. I do remember the deacon saying that the lady’s suffering was over. She had lung cancer and was sick for quite a while before she died.

 

[newyorkcatholic]

He may have meant her earthly suffering and didn’t mean to deny the possibility there was any suffering in purgatory?

Anyway, the teachings that a baptized infant goes to heaven (a beautiful thing) is expressed in the traditional Mass a few ways (different prayers, for example). But my favorite is that white vestments are used. This is pretty striking considering that in all other cases traditional funeral Masses use black vestments.

I imagine seeing those white vestments could give a bit of comfort and hope to the parents of such a child who must be going through some unimaginable pain.

 

[1ke]

I didn’t use a voice recorder during the memorial Mass, 1ke. I don’t have a transcript either. I do remember the deacon saying that the lady’s suffering was over. She had lung cancer and was sick for quite a while before she died.

Well, duh. Her suffering is over. Seriously, that’s all you’ve got?

This is the problems with these types of posts. Someone posts what a priest or deacon “supposedly” said, everyone attacks the priest or deacon, and then it turns out he didn’t say any such thing.