Faith & Roses

Yesterday a priest came to Mom’s. I wish I could remember his name! He is a native of Ukraine. Dear man. Kind, open, bright-eyed. Looked Mom and me right in our eyes. He travelled a far distance to see Mom and give her three Catholic sacraments:
– Reconciliation
– Communion
– Anointing of the sick
The oil he had to anoint the sick he got in Jerusalem at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre* when he was there in 2018. I was so happy.

We prayed the Our Father and the Hail Mary together and then he took care of Mom. Mom will not have prayers when she is buried. She was adamant that she did not want a priest at the funeral home. That was her wish yeas ago when she bravely and unselfishly and lovingly (for herself and her daughters) planned and paid for her funeral and burial. For me, it was beautiful. I was so taken by the beautiful ceremony and prayers. I was moved to tears, and in those moments, it was Mom’s ‘going home’ service. Her final prayers and blessings.