Nell Husbands Martin Coulter, RIP

Read Ann's touching tribute to her Mom, who passed away last Tuesday.

The Wedding - Julie Rogers

This evening, I was driving my Mom somewhere when the following song played on the radio. This was a song my parents both enjoyed. Seems like a good time to post it here, since a few of my acquaintances currently have marriage on the horizon!

Ashes to Ashes...

Today, on this bright, sunny Saturday of the Easter Octave, one day before Mercy Sunday, I accompanied my Mom to the funeral parlour because she wanted to finalize plans for her cremation. Happily, Mom is in good health and doesn't appear to be in need of cremating anytime soon - she just wanted to make sure all the plans were already in place so that I wouldn't have to worry about things "when her time comes". While I sincerely appreciate Mom being so organized, I was dreading making this trip with her.

Both my Father and my Mother opted for immediate cremation, for reasons of economy and simplicity. When my Father died, we were given permission to have a private funeral Mass at home. The urn containing my Dad's cremated remains was present. A dear Priest-friend who had heard my Father's final confession, given him Holy Communion and anointed him, also said the funeral Mass. The only people present, besides the Priest and my Father, were my Mom, my Nana, three close family friends, and me. Although Dad knew a lot of people, he had specifically requested a small funeral, and it was special in its own way.

Later the urn was placed in a niche in a mausoleum. The cemetery is not specifically Catholic, and it occurred to me today that the niche was never blessed. When my Priest-friend visits this summer, we're going to ask him to bless the niche which contains: my Father's urn, a rosary, a memorial nameplate, a photograph of Dad, his watch, and a little teddy-bear which I gave him when he was in the Hospital.

When Mom passes, she wants her urn to be placed with my Father's, in the same niche.

I suppose it's just as well that the task of making these arrangements took place during the Easter Octave. Rather than get depressed over the contemplation of one day being separated from another parent by death, I'm focusing instead on the Resurrection! :)

Hallelujah! He is Risen!

I found this in my e-mail this morning and wanted to share it on here - Thanks D.D.! :)

RESURRECTION HOMILY - Saint John Chrysostom

LET ALL PIOUS MEN and all lovers of God rejoice in the splendor of this feast;
let the wise servants blissfully enter into the joy of their Lord;
let those who have borne the burden of Lent now receive their pay,
and those who have toiled since the first hour, let them now receive their due reward;
let any who came after the third hour be grateful to join in the feast,
and those who may have come after the sixth, let them not be afraid of being too late,
for the Lord is gracious and He receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him who comes on the eleventh hour as well as to him who has toiled since the first; yes,
He has pity on the last and He serves the first;
He rewards the one and is generous to the other;
He repays the deed and praises the effort.
Come you all: enter into the joy of your Lord.
You the first and you the last, receive alike your reward;
you rich and you poor, dance together; you sober and you weaklings, celebrate the day;
you who have kept the fast and you who have not, rejoice today.
The table is richly loaded: enjoy its royal banquet.
The calf is a fatted one: let no one go away hungry.
All of you enjoy the banquet of faith; all of you receive the riches of his goodness.
Let no one grieve over his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed;
let no one weep over his sins, for pardon has shone from the grave;
let no one fear death, for the death of our Savior has set us free:
He has destroyed it by enduring it,
He has despoiled Hades by going down into its kingdom,
He has angered it by allowing it to taste of his flesh.
When Isaiah foresaw all this, he cried out: "O Hades, you have been angered by encountering Him in the nether world."
Hades is angered because frustrated, it is angered because it has been mocked, it is angered because it has been destroyed, it is angered because it has been reduced to naught, it is angered because it is now captive.
It seized a body, and, lo! it discovered God; it seized earth, and, behold! it encountered heaven; it seized the visible, and was overcome by the invisible. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?
Christ is risen and you are abolished,
Christ is risen and the demons are cast down,
Christ is risen and the angels rejoice,
Christ is risen and life is freed,
Christ is risen and the tomb is emptied of the dead:
for Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the Leader and Reviver of those who had fallen asleep. To Him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

Good Friday Meditation

Good Reading

I recently re-read "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee - now that was time well spent! :) I haven't seen the movie in a while, but I've put a hold request on it at my local library. Hope it comes in soon!

Palm Sunday Praise

Cece Winans singing "King of Kings" (music starts around 1:52):



Wishing everyone a prayerful and transformational Holy Week, united to the heart of Christ!

John Paul II Remembered

Carole Brown wrote a touching tribute to John Paul II on his death anniversary last week.