We all know people tho count for us. When one of those people is seriously ill and dying we take to heart to care and accompany this person as best we can by visiting, sending text messages, post cards, etc.

We are called to attend to this person, parent, sister, brother, friend of companion on the way until death.

Burying and praying for a close relative or friend is a beautiful gesture of mercy. When we inhume a loved one we who are baptized believe that Christ is alive and that He will raise our loved ones also for a life of infinite Happiness among the multitude of the departed from « all races, tongues, peoples, nations and all generations ». (Ap 7,9).

In praying for the deceased we are entrusting them to God’s Mercy while awaiting our ultimate encounter as promised by Jesus when He told His Apostles « Let not your hearts be troubled ; believe in God, believe in Me. In my Father’s house there are many rooms ; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go and prepare a place for you ? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also and you know the way where I am going (John 14 : 1-4).

Pope Francis encourages us also to pray for the living in the « communion of saints ». « The memory of the dead should not make us forget to pray for the living ». God is with us here on this earth, we move in His presence and we believe that His merciful love and that of His saints hear our prayers. The dead intercede for the living who, in return, prays for them. We receive the force to believe and to love from one another in an exchange… The communion of Saints.

Pray for the living members of our families, our street, our area, our town, country… the world : Lord ! Give us the Joy and the strenght to make our lives a pathay to You…