The Irish standard., 1913-09-06
! ii 4 MASSES
H|R 4 FLOWERS
Growing Sentiment in Favor of Dis
pensine With Flowers at
Funerals.
Writer in Dublin Leader" Declares
it Relic ofPre- Christian
Passni'm.
People Use Flowers to Distract Their
Minds From the Thought
Of Death.

or late years ~ practice has been
introduced into this country of put
ting flowers on the collins of the
dead. 1t Is not5an Irish custom. 1t
is pagan. The safy Christians never
decorated the dead with flowers; our
own sanity 1rish ancestors did not
do so. 1t has itss origin in the wish
to get rid Of thesthousht of death, to
do away with tho solemnity, the sa-
credness, the majesty Of death. The
unbeliever, the wotldly-minded Chris
tian does not want to be reminded Of
death. So gay and gorgeous flowers
are heaped on the casket to hide
away and prevent any disturbing
thought Of the axzhl mystery beneath.
Now this is npt sChristian senti-
ssaspt ,,.,.ss snaE sits sa @ + 1heuld.
besa sacrsd srsffl .66 ! Ceremony, the
burial Of our hallowea dead. into a
vain and worldly pageant.
Many bishops and priests have con-
demned this unbecoming practice and
in some places special orders have
been given from the pulpit that no
flowers would be permitted in the
church during Masses for the dead.
This frivolous fashion has led to
grave abuses. Families vie with each
other as to which will have the
greatest number and most expensive
wreaths and bouquets at funerals;
and not only the members of the be.
reaved families but also their friends
spend extravagant sums on them.
This often results in an accumulation
Of debts-not always paid-and in
miserable jealousies, reproaches and
squabbles, and all the while the poor,
departed soul is suffering in Purga-
tory craving-craving, not for flow
ers, but for Mass, prayer. So.
Just think when we ourselves have
passed into the cleansing fire Of Pur-
gatory, what comfort will 1t then be
to us to have flowers lavished on our
remains. Our poor souls will be
thirsting, craving for prayers, for the
Precious Blood in the holy sacrifice
Of the Mass. Have pity on me at
least you, by friends" And our
friends. even our nearest and dear
est, answer our piteous pleading by
strewing flowers on our coffin.
Happy the departed soul, blessed
and consoled will that spirit be-.
whose casket is covered, not with the
blossoms that fade and are thrown
aside, but with cards recording prom
ises Of friends to have Masses and
prayers offered for its speedy en-
trance into Heaven. And glad will
we be too when our turn comes to be
50 remembered. a.
Form Of Card.
In reverent memory of the dead
and with sincere sympathy (name or
names) promise to have q Mass or
Masses or prayers offered for the de-
parted SOUR. /. z.
Oh! il this custom were adopted
what glory it would give to God. what
relief to the suffering souls, and what
blessings and graces and help 1t
would bring to ourselves in life, at the
hour of our death and when we pass
into eternity.
But we must be practical. Let each
one do his or her part to put an end
to this unbecoming fashion that has
grown into such an abuse. Let
"Masses, not Flowers" be our motto.
Are we not Catholics. the descendants
Of saints and martyrs? Do We not
7 believe in Purgatory, in the com.
munion Of saints Then. when death
comes to our homes, let us show our
faith, our hope, our charity by writ.
ing with the notice of the death the
words "Masses. not TloWers."