Unfortunately, too many of our children and grandchildren have left the Catholic faith. The pressures of this modern world on our young people are enormous, and it is important for all to regularly pray and ask for St. Monica’s intercession to help bring these family members back to the Church. In this spiritual environment, we have a great opportunity at Catholic funerals to help family members who have left the Church return when they experience the beauty of the Order of Christian Funerals. I all too often have conversations with individuals who have lost a parent that do not want to have a Catholic Mass for their mother or father. Sometimes, they do not want any part of the Order of Christian Funerals since they no longer consider themselves Catholic and don’t feel like they need the Mass or other services. But it’s important to remember the reasons we have funerals and that they are not just for the living but also for the loved one who passed away. While there are many reasons we have funerals, there are four primary reasons the Church has funerals. First, we have funerals to praise God. In this time of need, we return to the Creator and praise him for creating us and our loved ones with love. Secondly, we thank God for his mercy and love. It is his mercy and love that gives us hope in everlasting life. At the funeral, we are reminded of God’s mercy and love through our thanksgiving for the life of our deceased loved one. Third, we pray for our deceased loved one’s soul. Christ is very clear in the Gospels that not everyone will go to Heaven. As a Church, we believe that our prayers assist people in their purification in purgatory and their journey to the Heavenly Father. A significant reason we have a Mass and the other stages of the Order of Christian Funerals is to pray for the loved one who passed away, which brings significant graces to them. Finally, we have funerals to fill the void of loss with faith. When we lose someone we love, there is a void in our life. Too often, we try to fill that void in unhealthy and potentially harmful ways. The funeral allows us to come together as a community and fill that void with the love of God. For all these reasons and more, a Catholic funeral is important for those of us who practice the faith – and even for those who no longer do. Significant graces are poured out through the Order of Christian Funerals for our beloved deceased and those of us left behind. While many experience the disappointment and pain of their children leaving the faith, we need to make it clear to our children, family and friends that we want a Catholic funeral for the graces and gifts it provides us and those attending our funeral. One way to do this is to pre-plan your funeral arrangements in advance. Your parish and the Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services can help you plan the various aspects of your funeral and cemetery services. This is a beautiful gift you can give your family to help them fill the void of loss with faith.
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