I remarked to my husband, "I know why your people drink - your songs are so sad!"

I have attended quite a few funerals within the past few years and for some reason, the music I chose today really made me tear up, despite the fact that the circumstances of Katie's death were not at all tragic - she was 95, literally died of old age, and had been praying for some time to "go home to Jesus." In contrast to the elderly population of her nursing home neighbors who comprised much of the congregation, the priest saying Mass was quite young. It is probably his youth that allowed him to say Mass in the most "religious" and spiritually engaged way I ever witnessed - meaning, he is not (yet) jaded and merely going through the motions. He closed his eyes at times during various prayers, swayed, knelt on the altar in reverence...he just seemed so HOLY, it was wonderful and moving to experience. He was even kind enough to accompany us to the cemetary, even though in these modern times with shortages of priests, usally the graveside blessing is done by a funeral director or lay (non-clergy) minister.

I pretty much lost it during the popular commital hymn, "In Paradisum" (which is played to the tune of "Danny Boy"  and thus is so clearly identified with the Irish.) This is the time when, after Mass, the priest cleanses the casket with incense and we say our final "goodbye" to the deceased. The lyrics in English are as follows; and it is not so much the words, but the nostaligia that accompanies the song due to its familiarity to many.


As Katie would say, "God love ya'."