Hello everyone. I hope you are well and staying safe. I went to Gate of Heaven Cemetery today to perform the Church's ritual of burial for my friend Alice Lavin. Deacon Luis accompanied me. Three people from Alice's building also attended. Frankly, if you saw them at a distance you might get a little nervous. One was a neighbor who often checked in on Alice and the other two were the maintenance men. They looked rather formidable! One of them, Virgil, had the longest finger nails I have ever seen in my life. You know what I mean, how they curl up and so forth. It was a little distracting. What was not distracting was their love for Alice. It was quite beautiful.
Alics's sister in California is not well and obviously couldn't come. Her niece and nephew upstate couldn't make it either. Yet, with this most interesting crew, I have a sense Alice would have been pleased with her burial. She always loved things kept simple. She told me it was the best way to celebrate liturgies and the best way to live! She got her wish!
In any event, I hope you enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening. Here is a wonderful little quote from St. Frances de Sales:
Do not look forward to what may happen
tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares
for you today will take care of you tomorrow and
every day. Either He will shield you from suffering,
or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace, then. Put aside all anxious thoughts and
imaginations, and say continually: "The Lord is my
strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in Him
and I am helped. He is not only with me but in me,
and I in Him."