Grieving the loss of a loved one is a painful yet fundamental part of the human condition.
Our Lord himself was not spared this experience, and Mary, our Blessed Mother, had her heart pierced with grief at the death of her Son.
Throughout human history, cultures and civilizations have developed rituals associated with death to accompany people during this inevitable grieving process.
This is particularly true in the Catholic Church, which has long experience in accompanying its members through the difficult time surrounding the death of a loved one.
The Church’s funeral rites emphasize that our bodies, like Christ’s, are destined for resurrection.
By prompting us to look upon the body of the deceased, to recall the person’s life, and to lay them to rest in a reverent way that manifests our resurrection faith, the Church helps us to grieve well and to accept and face the new reality before us.
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