The Mystery of Death and Christian Funerals - #7

When we think about the times we wait, we learn something about the vigil we keep when someone dies. Waiting is part of life. We wait for children to arrive home from college at Thanksgiving. We wait for a safe delivery when birthing a child. We wait on a family member who is physically sick. We wait for word that surgery has been successful. We wait for dawn when we've spent the night pacing the floor, wrestling anxiety, worry, or fear. We wait at the airport for a grandparent's flight to arrive. We wait in line to renew a license. We wait for everyone to show up at a family reunion. We wait for the lottery drawing. Vigil keeping is about waiting. Waiting is about patience and the hope of good news.

We figure that Christians should be good at vigil keeping. Our ancestors were naturals at keeping all kinds of vigils. In fact, there are two major vigils that we keep when we wait on the Lord. First, we keep a weekly vigil every Saturday night. We wait for the dawn of the Lord's Day. The Saturday night Eucharist is a vigil that spills over into keeping the Lord's Day holy. We await the Risen One. This vigil holds out the honeyed promise of victory over evil and chaos, darkness and death.

Second, we keep singular vigil on Holy Saturday night. This vigil begins in holy darkness. Darkness reminds us that once there was original chaos, a time of formlessness at the dawn of creation. This ritual is leisurely, patiently performed. At this vigil we tell stories, perform the baptismal bath, and savor the holy meal. The atmosphere is festive and regal. Majestic candlelight flickers in the banquet hall. The whole affair is hosted by the risen Lord. This vigil holds out the honeyed promise of victory over evil and chaos, darkness and death.

We bring experience from these two vigils with us when we come to keep vigil for someone who has died. The Order of Christian Funerals states the purpose of the vigil. "No. 56. At the vigil the Christian Community keeps watch with the family in prayer to the God of mercy and finds strength in Christ's presence. It is the first occasion among the funeral rites for the solemn reading of the Word of God. In this time of loss the family and community turn to God's word as the source of faith and hope, as light and life in the face of darkness and death. Consoled by the redeeming word of God and by the abiding presence of Christ and his Spirit, the assembly at the vigil calls upon the Father of mercy to receive the deceased into the kingdom of light and peace."

Pastors and priests, deacons, lay ministers, directors of liturgical music, bereavement ministers and funeral directors minister to the family and the community and help them to do this vigil keeping in peace. Pastors and professional parish ministers need to inform funeral directors about the format of the vigil prayer. All need to work together so that a genuine spirit of Christian hospitality and reverence is created. When church ministers and funeral directors work together, the family and the community is comforted and consoled. This vigil holds out the honeyed promise of victory over evil and chaos, darkness and death.