One of the things that the Catholic Church defended against the Protestant Rebellion of the 16th century was the doctrine that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was an eminently-worthy sacrifice offered to God not only for the living, but also for those who have died, indeed, that Mass is a true sacrifice of propitiation. Long before the Council of Trent (1545-1563), the Church cherished the practice of offering Masses for the dead and praying for the faithful departed, not only on All Soul's Day (November 2), but at other times. The Church has always been zealous to ensure that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered for a departed person on the day of the funeral, as well as on the third, seventh and thirtieth days following. An ancient custom of offering the Gregorian Mass (that is, the offering of Mass for the repose of a soul for thirty consecutive days) is still available to those whose piety compels them.

For one who in life was a temple of the Holy Spirit, it is fitting that the last time he/she is in church should be at a Mass which is being offered for his/her own soul and at which he/she should receive the final blessing of the Church before the procession to the grave. Even those who have had their bodies burnt deserve to have the Holy Sacrifice offered for them before being reduced to ashes and subsequent inurnment.

It is a sadness when I read in the paper about the deaths of people who in their lives were practicing Catholics and deserve to be buried either whole or in ashes with the prayers of the Church but are denied this last suffrage of the Christian community. It is even worse when priests (some of whom know better) perform some sort of rite in the funeral home, in place of the Mass, which such people, having been faithful Catholics throughout their lives, deserve.

It is certainly more convenient for funeral directors to do it all up without having to move the remains and it saves the cold-hearted relatives 15 or 20 minutes of time, and I am sure that the priest gets the same offering whatever he does (perhaps more if he is brief). But is not the culmination of a practicing Catholic's time on earth worth more than that? Is it not a grave injustice to inflict a penalty upon the innocent? Yet that is what is done when Mass and the rites of the Church are withheld from those who have a right to them. There are still pious priests who would say the Mass without a stipend, if necessary, in order to afford our faithful people the Church's final benediction.

The Church's "Song of Farewell" reads:

"Saints of God, come to his/her aid!

"Hasten to meet him/her, angels of the Lord!

"Receive his/her soul and present him/her to God the Most High.

"May Christ, who called you, take you to himself;

"may angels lead you to the bosom of Abraham.

"Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord,

"and let perpetual light shine upon him/her."

May no faithful Catholic be sent to rest without it.