Love Beyond Death

1963 – 1972

 Dear Mike,

Today is your 40^th death anniversary!  Years ago, it was impossible to imagine what it would be like 40 years from then, without you. Our days had been filled with so much play together, and then suddenly you were gone. You left us all so sad, so soon.

Imagine, it has been 40 long years that you have been up there!  Hmm, I wonder what you have been up to all this time :o)   Did you ever take a peek at each of us, now living in different parts  of the world?  Have you ever wished you could have joined our children in their play?  I bet you would have had the time of your life getting to know their many stuffed toys, called “best friends”, positioned all over the house. Did you ever talk about us with our beloved God, and noticed any expressions on his face as you spoke with Him? Did He ever allow you to know what is in store for the future?

Mike, it is true that time heals.  The 40 years have enabled us to move out of our sorrow, and to now think of you without the feelings of sadness and loss that once weighed so heavily in our hearts.

How true it is that love lives beyond death. How can it not be so, when 40 years after your death, my heart still warms up with each recall of our day-in and day-out play and chatter. I smiled when together with my children, I recently saw again the drawings, cards and letters to real and imaginary people that we had made more than 40 years ago. I can still recite by heart each and every line of the beautiful prayer and the simple poem composed in your memory decades ago.

Mike, your years with us were short but rich. I still don’t fully appreciate why you had to move on so early, but what I do know now from this experience is that yes, love lives beyond death.  Love for you continues, despite the 40 long years you have been away..

“I love you for always”  my dear brother :o)

St. Michael, 

Prince of Angels and Gods First Knight

Brave and true to your captain, Christ

We give into your strong care

Our Michael young and fair

Called suddenly from our loving home

To stand his watch before God’s throne.

A page of Christ washed and fed

With cleansing waters and holy bread.

And though we miss his voice and smile

Yet we trust that in just a while

We all together again shall be

Forever a part of God’s family.

So St. Michael, until that day

We shall continue to watch and pray

At peace to know that our son and brother

Is safe with Christ and his loving mother. 

-  Fr. J.F. Donelan, SJ

One lonely night as I sat by my window

Memories of a little boy with a lot of pillows

Had just entered into my mind

For there was no one of such a kind. 

I remember how he used to stand

Beside my bed to conduct a band

Of little animal cushions who stared

At the little boy’s face which cared.

And throughout the day I would hear

His sweet voice ring so near.

His smile so touching  would send me dreaming

Of his two eyes so brightly gleaming.

Troubles, we think of him

Cutting our things to trim!

But in truth, it’s such a joy

To be with Michael, that wonderful boy. 

- mc

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Healing Grace

Photo borrowed from the website bibleseo.com

One of the most significant homilies I have heard was the one given by Fr. Armand Robleza years ago, during a mass in the office.  I remember distinctly that the gospel was about the paralytic who was lowered down from the rooftop by four people, so that he could be presented to Jesus for healing. Fr. Armand encouraged us to identify at least four people in our own lives who were like the four in the gospel scene. Four people who were with us during our most difficult times, and whose  presence and guidance have helped us to rise up, just like the paralytic. People through whom Jesus' healing grace flowed on to us, with or without their being aware of it.

Fr. Armand's homily made me think of eight such people in my own life, whose presence and accompaniment I have been blessed to receive. People who taught me not by words but by their actions, what it means to consistently extend support to another during the other's vulnerable moments.  In this photo there are eight assisting - just like the eight I am truly grateful for!

May you also be able to identify at least four people in your own life through whom you have felt our dearest Lord's healing grace flow on to you... four people who have been there to carry you to our Master Healer when you really needed it.

Then let us pause and say a prayer of deep gratitude for them, that they too may be so blessed by our beloved Master Healer Himself   :o)


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