A fitting day

Uncle Bob passed away today, on the First Friday of July, 2012.  The date doesn’t matter, only that it is the First Friday of the month—a day we, as Catholics, recognize as a day of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

As I reflect on Uncle Bob’s example to me as a Christian, I keep coming back to his devotion to the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I recalled today how he led the rosary at my brother Tom’s memorial service.  I was struck by his sincerity as he recited each Hail Mary—he was even crying at times!  They weren’t tears of sadness about Tom’s passing, I remember thinking to myself, but tears of gratitude and hope that our Lady would intercede to the Sacred Heart of her Son for us on behalf of Tom and all of our other relatives and friends who have gone before us.

So I thought it fitting that I say my rosary this evening for a humble, loving, faith-filled servant of Jesus Christ and a shining example of Christ in my own life.

God our Father,
Your power brings us to birth, Your providence guides our lives, and by Your command we return to dust.
Lord, those who die still live in Your presence,  their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my uncle, Robert,  for my relatives and friends, and for all the dead known to You alone.
In company with Christ, Who died and now lives, may they rejoice in Your kingdom, where all our tears are wiped away.  Unite us together again in one family, to sing Your praise forever and ever.

Amen