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January 26, 2004
No Sunday Post
Sorry folks, but that old saw about the best laid plans and so on, applies to yesterday. It all went belly up very rapidly as far as time management went. And the rest of this week doesn't look too good either, although the conflicting weather predictions could make for a few interesting surprises as I head to the North East tomorrow.
At least the day ended on a very reflective note. I and my fellow members of our ministry team were present with a small group of close friends of Father David to receive his coffin into the Abbey in preparation for his funeral this morning. It was a very monastic moment as we processed to the door at the North West end of the church lead by the processional cross and two acolytes, a server and the four Readers, the Assistant Priest and the Vicar, to meet the undertakers and the family.
This procession then lead the family and the coffin up the nave to the Presbytery while the funeral verses and psalms were read and placed the coffin on the prepared stands in front of the high altar. With everyone in black cassock and white cotta (a sort of short surplice used usually for assisting at the Mass or any service where the long flowing sleeves of a surplice would get in the way.) several of those present said they felt they had slipped back in time.
In the Presbytery (that part of the Abbey situated between the Choir Stalls and the Sanctuary and inside the original monastic church) we were lead in the prayers of preparation by the Vicar while my colleagues and I covered the coffin with the funeral pall and laid on it a Bible, a Crucifix and the stole of a priest, the symbols of his priestly ministry among us.
A very moving little service and ione the family found as helpful as we who took part, primarily I suspect because it gave us time to take our leave in a simple way, honouring him in death as we did in life. At the funerakl this morning we will not be able to be as private as we tend to those who come to say their farewells more publically.
May he rest in peace, and rise in glory.
Posted by The Gray Monk at January 26, 2004 08:48 AM