March 18, 2020
By Mary Clifford Morrell
Following a recent car trip, my daughter-in-law shared a memorable moment she had with one of my granddaughters – a child known for her precocious insights, which she doesn’t hesitate to share.
As they drove past the cemetery, an adult friend told a joke to the two girls. “Why is there a fence around the cemetery?” she asked. After a minute of no responses, she quipped, “Because people are dying to get in!”
The adults had a good laugh in the front seat, but a few minutes later, my young granddaughter said, “Mama, do you remember your grandmother?”
“Of course,” my daughter-in-law replied.
“She’s dead, isn’t she?” asked the seven-year-old.
A moment of silence ensued, recalled my daughter-in-law, noting her daughter’s words weren’t so much a question as a statement; one that was chastising her for laughing at a joke about death.
In her little heart she seemed to understand that the living are still connected to the dead in some way – especially when we have loved them or they us.
“Church tradition has always urged prayer for the dead, in particular by offering the celebration of the Eucharist for them; it is the best spiritual help that we can give to their souls, particularly to the most abandoned ones,” said Pope Francis.
We can enter into that tradition by including a spiritual work of mercy to our Lenten practice – praying for the living and the dead who are all members of the Body of Christ and the Communion of Saints.
Prayer is one of the most powerful ways we can support others, both those who accompany us on this earthly journey, and those who have died. By praying for the dead we help ourselves to grieve and support them in their new life.
Prayer also expands our hearts, helps us heal broken relationships, even with those who have died, and encourages us to move outside ourselves and our needs in order to focus on the needs of others.
Mary Regina Morrell is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.