Sunday, November 09, 2008

History and Faith





After Mass, after junk mail delivery, after talking to a family friend about chicken, well, I craved KFC.
So, we trotted off to Dural KFC for lunch - it's okay, I didn't have chips and had a burger no mayo! Whew! You thought I'd over eaten again , didn't you?

On the way home, we called into Castle Hill Cemetery. To pray for souls in this month of November, this month of remembering those who have gone before us; followed by a walk around, reading some of the older, interesting tombstones. We recognised some names from families at church and from streets in our area.

History in tombstones?

For centuries, people have marked graves and commemorated the dead. Stones were originally used by prehistoric man to keep wild animals from digging up the gravesite. Today cemetery markers are artifacts, and when studied like an artifact, will reveal historical information. In addition, the inscriptions and accurate dating on the tombstone disclose even more insight to the past. From the lesson plans of the History Detective


Collect (from Masses for the Dead):

Merciful Father,hear our prayer and console us.As we renew our faith in Your Son,whom You raised from the dead,strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection,who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Heavenly Father,

You sent Christ Jesus your Son to wash away the sins of all mankind through His perfect sacrifice,and you cleansed our departed brothers and sisters in the waters of baptism. May His perfect sacrifice free them from the power of death and give them eternal life. In your mercy, O Lord, grant them eternal rest, and may perpetual light shine on them forever. Amen.

Eternal Rest

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.May they rest in peace. Amen.

Requiem Æternam

Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine,et lux perpétua lúceat eis.Requiéscant in pace. Amen

8 comments:

Greg said...

I should make sure I get to a cemetery for November as well. A good and wholesome thing.

Chris said...

Wow. I didn't think Castle Hill cemetery would be so interesting. We drive past it quite a few times per week. I want to visit now and connect with our local history.

Leonie said...

Greg - I can see you've ben reading that missal! lol!

Chris, have you visited the little Pioneer Cemetery at Rouse Hill? ALso interesting...

Chris said...

No I haven't had the pleasure. You"ll have to tell me where it is.

Anonymous said...

Both you and Alexander are wearing the right colours to pray for the dead! coincidence? I think not! BLV

Julie said...

After having read some australian historical novels, I've always thought that going down and looking at the place where many "pioneers" have been laid to rest would be quite interesting...

Found it fascinating when I was taken to see my dad's grave in Lima, where people are buried in tall cabinet-file type walls and a plaque is placed on the outside of each tomb, often elaborately sculptured and really beautiful pieces! It was so strange because I was used to the 'Anglo' style cemeteries...it definitely allows for more space for larger populations...maybe we might see them introduced here seeing as how they are running out of cemetery spaces.

Leonie said...

Mmm - coincidence? inspiration? or we just like that colour? :-)

Leonie said...

Wow, Julie, interesting to hear about the differences wrt tombstones and cemeteries.