A Catholic Funeral Companion: When a Loved One Dies

DESCRIPTION: When someone dies, few of us know how to respond to the immediate task of preparing for the funeral. This softbound booklet is designed for pastoral caregivers to give to those faced with such planning. It includes short articles on coping with grief; the liturgy of the funeral itself; and reflections on the survivors' journey beyond the ritual farewells. Contributors include Alice Camille, Paul Boudreau, Lawrence Mick, and others. (38 pages)

REVIEW: "All the writers in this special issue have shared this journey with us. They too have mourned and grieved for loved ones. They have faced the challenge of learning who they are and how life is lived after the funeral." - Dan Connors, Today's Parish Minister

EXCERPT: "Though we may hear the Scriptures read Sunday after Sunday all our lives, they sound different to us in times of crisis or special need. Certain phrases and images that may have escaped our attention before now curl around our hearts with particular significance. At my brother's funeral, this phrase was read: "Dearly beloved, we are God's children now" (1 John). I felt buoyed up by the thought that my brother and I and our whole family remained united as the children of God. It sounded like the writer had meant it just for us."