Eugene’s description of the funeral of the 13 year-old member of the Youth Congregation, shows how it was its members who took responsibility for the funeral and for praying in a serious manner for the deceased in the days after his funeral.
God called Victor Joseph Antoine Chabot to himself yesterday at 6 p.m. All the congregants were immediately informed so that they might lose no time in according him their suffrages; they were all invited at the same time to go to the funeral which was to take place today. We assembled in the church of the Madeleine. The Reverend Director together with the Parish Priest and the Parish Curates led the Office. All then went together to the deceased’s house. The 13 candles that are placed around the corpse were returned to the office-bearers who were given places in the cortège during the procession immediately after the celebrant, close to the corpse, which was thus surrounded by them and followed by all the other members, probationers and postulants of the Congregation. The mortal remains of the deceased having been set down in the cemetery, the sprinkler was given to each congregant in turn and before this body, which should seemingly, seeing its youth, have been assured of a longer stay, had been covered with earth and made to disappear for ever from the surface of the earth, the Rev. Director said a few words inspired by the occasion.
Finally all the congregants recited on their knees the De Profundis, and then immediately went back to the chapel of the Congregation there to recite Vespers for the Dead. We fixed the first free Thursday for the Requiem Mass and the Office which should be said in Congregation; that will be the 13th of this month. Meanwhile, in conformity with the regulation, each congregant will make a communion for the repose of the soul of the deceased and will apply for the same intention all the indulgences he may earn during the nine days following the date of his death.
Diary of the Aix Christian Youth Congregation, 1 April 1815, O.W. XVI
This weekend the Oblate Family and the St. Joseph’s Family celebrated the life, love and ministry of Garry Byrne, HOMI. And so this reflection of the founder is so timely for me/us.
How do we re-author rituals/rites and moments with in the Oblate Family so that there are common elements that root us to the past while allowing for the creativity of the present to blossom forth? “What makes a “ritual/rite” Oblate?
In the reading of today a few elements comes to light:
1. All the congregants were immediately informed.
2. all invited at the same time to go to the funeral
3. All then went together to the deceased’s house. (that sense of presence)
4. the sprinkler was given to each congregant in turn and before this body (full participation by all).
5. on going prayers.
This remains the same. We are ONE in the Communion of Saints!
Regarding this particular funeral, when a grandson carried a 1 meter tall “Oblate Cross” to lead the process in and out I was touched me deeply. The acknowledgment of the Oblate Family present asking all to stand (Oblates, those who left community life so to follow their heart yet remain Oblate to the core, the Honorary Oblates and Associates.) What a witness this funeral was. Charity and Zeal, two sides of the common coin.
Here is St. Joe’s Website. http://www.st-josephs.ca/pages/index_e.aspx
Fraternally, Jack