BURIAL MASS

 When someone in your family dies and leaves you alone, you feel very sad. Rather we should be happy when we bury or cremate and join them with our ancestors. Because they are not somewhere in a state of emptiness or darkness. But they are in another life together with your holy men and women who were ancestors and praying and interceding for you so that you may also reach that place one day. 

The idea of a decent burial was important in most ancient cultures, especially the Jewish culture. This idea came strongly after their worst experience during the exile in Egypt and Babylonia. It is because many of their ancestors were left unburied and vulnerable to animals and birds of prey, and the Israelites considered it shameful. It was the time  the people of Israel started to have burial practices. Some of their usual customs are here... 

1. Quick burial: Burials were usually completed quickly after death, even in the same hours of the deceased’s passing because of hygiene purposes. The cremation was believed to be a pagan practice, the Jews did not cremate their dead. There was also a superstition that the soul could feel what was done to the body. So, Mosaic law dictated that Jews bury their dead, not burn the dead bodies, as such burning was reserved for punishment or judgment. 

2. Preparing the Body: After death, the body was laid out, either on the ground or over sand and salt. The eyes and mouth were securely closed and the body was washed. The hair and nails were trimmed, and then the deceased was anointed with oils and ointment. Finally, the body was dressed. Sometimes the body was wrapped in linen with spices enclosed. 

3. Archaeological discoveries say that human remains like bones were discovered beneath the floors of mud-brick houses. People were buried inside their homes. Ancestral tomb: It was especially desirable to be buried in one’s native land and, if possible, with one’s ancestors. 

Ancestral tomb: In Biblical times, they used to have ancestral tombs that were kept only for a particular family or clan. For example, at the time of his wife’s death, Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah at Hebron to be her burial site. When Abraham died, he was buried in the same tomb. Later, Isaac, Abraham’s son, was also buried there, and Jacob, Isaac’s son, was laid to rest there. 

The idea of burying together as a family tells the value of unity and prayer of ancestors. "Where two or three gathered in my name there I am". Jesus prayed in John 17:21, "They may all be one as I and Father are one". It was not easy for Jesus to make them one, because of their different personalities and intentions of vocation. But Jesus went to the extent of giving His life to make us one. The real devil is in the form of a division maker. Sometimes the patron of the house gives his life to make them one.

Wake Mass: There are classifications of death, often based on legal, medical, and cultural perspectives. Here are some of the main types:

1. Immediate Death: Resulting from natural causes such as age or disease. Accidental Death: Occurring due to an unforeseen event, like a car accident or a fall. Undetermined, 

2. Casual/slow Death: Resulting from a person intentionally causing their own death.

These classifications help in determining the cause, manner, and circumstances of death, which are important for legal, medical, and social reasons.

Several saints are known for having endured prolonged suffering and slow deaths, often due to persecution or torture. Here are a few notable examples:

1. Saint Lawrence: A deacon in Rome who was martyred in 258 AD. He was reportedly roasted alive on a gridiron over a slow fire. According to tradition, he maintained his faith and even made a remark to his executioners, asking them to turn him over as he was "done" on one side.

2. Saint Sebastian: A Roman soldier who was martyred for his faith around 288 AD. He was initially tied to a tree and shot with arrows, but he survived this ordeal and was later clubbed to death.

3. Saint Agnes: A young Christian martyr who died in Rome around 304 AD. She was tortured and executed at the age of 12 or 13, enduring multiple forms of suffering over a period before her death.

These saints are venerated for their unwavering faith and courage in the face of prolonged and agonizing suffering. Their stories have been passed down through the centuries as examples of extreme devotion and endurance.

Happy/serene death:  In Christian tradition, a "happy death" is often considered a peaceful and holy death, ideally in a state of grace and in the presence of loved ones. Several saints are renowned for experiencing such a death. Here are a few:

1. Saint Joseph: He is considered the patron saint of a happy death because he is believed to have died peacefully in the arms of Jesus and Mary. His death is seen as an ideal model of a holy death.

2. Saint Francis of Assisi: Known for his profound spirituality and closeness to God, he died in 1226 surrounded by his followers, singing hymns of praise to God. His death was peaceful and joyful, filled with a sense of divine presence.

3. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: Also known as the "Little Flower," she died in 1897 at the age of 24 after a long illness. Despite her suffering, she remained joyful and at peace, expressing her deep love for Jesus until the end.

4. Saint John Vianney: The Curé of Ars, who died in 1859, was known for his piety and dedication to the sacraments. He died peacefully after a long life of pastoral work, confident in God's mercy.

These saints are often invoked in prayers for a happy death, and their lives and deaths serve as examples of how to live and die in faith and trust in God.