"THE MONTH OF OUR DEAD."

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 28, 8 November 1895, Page 18

"THE MONTH OF OUR DEAD."

John Buskin says that " flowers &eem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity." Hence without doubt the extensive ue of flowers at modern obnpquits. Non-Catho-lics ordinarily do not be ieve in iho efficacy of prayers for the dead. They direct, then, the tffort of charity to comfort and solace the living. With well-meant but unjustifiable kindness they practically canonise the dear departed. Flowers and white plumes — emb'etns of gladness and joy and purity — are sadly out of harmony at many a funeral with the prevailing thoughts in the minds of the mourners about a hie, spent away from God, which was remarkable only for intense worldliness. " Consolation to the living rather than relief to the dead '"is the clearly &a'L-nt feature of most of our burials. It is to be feared that Children of the Church draw in too readily the poisoned breath ot the children of earth. Attempt is made to lessen the sorrow of the HviDg: it is usnally a vain attorapt, for grief must run its course ; but it answers a purpose. Kespect is shown to the remains of the dead — " our respect for the dead when they are just dead is something wonderful" — but the soul is not always thoughtfully, certainly not prayerfully, considered. These thoughts are suggested by the Month of the Dead which we are already hurrying through. A Catholic journalist iias his duty to the dead as well as to the living. We notice that effort is being made by some rational burial enthusiasts in our midst to discourage the flower show at funerals, Thosj who will not allow prayers for the dead will, even oa the score of useless expenditure, find it difii-

cult to take away external tokens of sympathy with the living. Wo all wish to do something more than say " I ana very sorry." We like to prove our sorrow by work or sacrifice of gome kind. The Catholic can effectively do this by suffrages for the departed soul. The flowers of prayer and the Passion-Fruit of the Holy Sacrifice give sweet consolation to the living and real relief to the dead. A fervent " Eternal rest grant to him, 0 Lord " gives more balm to a mother's bruised heart in the hour of bitter grief than a ton of sweet-smelling flowers, which to-morrow will wither and the next day begin to quickly decay. Mere human sympathy appeals to our human feeling ; Catholic sympathy appeals to our Christian instinct, and remains in longest remembrance. Time was when death was allowed to preach its hodie mihi, eras tibi — to-day for me, to-morrow for you. Now modern unb-slief, either by cremation or the gorgeousness of the funeral pageant seeks to hide death, blunt its sting, and remove its terrors. The spirit of the Church incites her children to treat the bodies of the dead — once the temples of the Holy Ghost — with respect, and to follow the soul with beneficial suffrages. The Church, indeed, directs " a crown of flowers " to be. laid on the coffins of children who carry baptismal innocence before the throne of God. Garlands are for her innocents and her saints. Prayer and sacrifice are for all whose salvation is not assured. Ut quid perditio haec ? why this waste ? why this re-appearance of old pagan custom? is not so much our plaint as, why the too frequent neglect of the dear departed ? Even legatees have sometimes short memories. The words of 6 1 Augustine come to mind when one hears the eloges at funerals and reads the epitaphs on monuments : " Laudantur übi non sunt, cruciantur übi sunt." " They are praised where they are not, they are tormented where they are." While there is much undoubted kindness, there is much hypocrisy in post mortem ostentatious sympathy. "We all know," says Kuskin, " how many a poor family will nearly ruin themselves to testify their respect for some member of it in his coffin whom they never niucli cared f>r when he was out of it." Too true ! The Irish Ecclestastical Record tellg us that nearly three hundred pounds were spent not long ago on flowers at the funeral of an American Catholic student ! One De Profundis would be immeasurably better for the deceased. The modern funeral flower show is tho outcome of the modern pagan renaissance. The t hurch long ago put an end to the deification of the dead, and for many centuries allowed sepulture to sibntlp preach its effective sermon. Attempt has been successfully made to minimise the Christianity of our burials. The sooner Catholics realise tho tread of modern agnosticism and the work of the Continental Lodges, the better for the dead and for the living. Worldly sympathy does not, we repeat, comfort the sorrowing Christian. A not improbable supposition will clearly illustrate what we mean. A young man, beloved by his parents, and respected by his fellows has suddenly died. The relatives, with inteuse grief, bewail the sad lo3s and premature demise. Many messages of condolence are received. Beautiful wreaths and exquisite floral crosses are piled around the coffin and scattered about the death-room. For these the father and mother and brothers and sisters are duly grateful. It is a return of courtesy tendered by them to others on similar sad occasions. A letter conies without a gift. It is short, but powerfully moves the Catholic mother. May God bless jou! May God reward you! " The grateful words of the comforted mother are re-echoed by all the family as they read the short message. " Accept my heartfelt sympathy. I had the idoly Sacrifice offered this morning for the repose of the dear departed. I know you would prefer that to wreath or cross, however beautiful. May he rest in peace." The flowers of fervent prayers are the most sympathetic offering we can make to a bleeding Catholic heart. While we discourage useless funeral expenditure, wo must certainly denounce the post funeral apathy which shows itself in the neghct of the graves where lie the bodies of those whom, just at death, we professed to admire and love so much. The Church does not object to a well-kept grave, with flowers and verdure clad. Far ftom it. Bhe has now the same spirit as of old when the Christian poet Prudentius wrote :

" Upon the spot where lie their bonep, We scattsr verdure and fljwers."

bhc solemnly blesses her cemeteries and shows rospect to the graves of her children. We were recently in a small ( atholic churchyaid where the dead are not forgotten.

Every grave without exception bore evidence to the thoughtful care of the family Burvivors. So should it everywhere be. A visit to the cemetery, a care for the grave, and a prayer for the departed are duties of the Month of the Dead.