Remembering Our Death
On Thursday I went to see the film “Living” starring Bill Nighy and Aimee Lou Wood. Set in the ’50s, Bill Nighy plays an austere bureaucrat, Mr Williams, working in London’s County Hall. His doctor gives time a short time to live and he sets out to find ways to live a little. It is a touching, humorous, moving and very thoughtful film, ideal viewing for November when we are encouraged to reflect on death and everlasting life.
In the film, the news of his impending death causes Mr Williams to search for and find a way to live and give meaning to his life. It has been an age-old practice to remember our death. In Psalm 90 we read: “teach us to number our days that we gain wisdom of heart.” This practice, known as “memento mori”, can improve the quality of our life here on earth. It gives us focus and motivation to live well.
But as Christians, remembering our death enables us to remember our LIFE who is Jesus Christ. “We remember our death in order that our lives may be filled with the Life of Christ, both now and when we enter into the joy of eternal life.” (Sr Theresa Aletheis Noble FSP).
It is good to prepare well for our death. Jesus came to show us how to live and die so that we live with him in eternity. Some might think it is a little morbid to focus on death but reflecting on death means that we are encouraged to live in the present and savour fully the gift of life.
I encourage you all to let your family and friends know how you wish your own funeral to be celebrated. We have a form at the Office that will help you with this. The Catholic Church have a beautiful Order of Christian funerals. We celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life which has now been returned to God, the author of life and hope of the just. It is a time to pray for those who have died.
I met someone recently who wondered if the Church was against a new trend which can be best described as “a direct funeral”. This a cremation with no funeral service or ceremony beforehand. After death, the deceased goes straight to the crematorium to be cremated, usually in a very simple, plain coffin. No family are present. After the cremation, the ashes are returned to the loved ones, to be kept or scattered according to the wishes of the deceased. This new trend seems partly to be driven by cost and partly by the desire to spare the family any trouble.
Having a proper celebration of a Christian funeral brings hope and consolation to the living. “While proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and witnessing to Christian hope in the resurrection, the funeral rites also recall to all who take part in them God’s mercy and judgement and meet the human need to turn to God in times of crisis.” (General Introduction to the Order of Christian Funerals)
