Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day is a perfect time to remember our fallen American veterans as well as public safety officials. In our family as in many others, we also decorate the graves of our loved ones. Each year we have a few more. Memorial Day brings some poignant memories. My little brother died when he was five. In 2001 and 2004, my husband and I lost two little daughters, Mary Therese and Isobella Raine, who died in utero. My husband's father passed away in 1996. In 2007, we lost both my beloved grandparents. Nevertheless, it is a time for family bonding. For Catholics, it's a time to observe the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, notably, to comfort the grieving and bury the dead.
We recently visited Lafayette and New Orleans, La. We've always found spiritual succor visiting cemeteries and paying tribute to the dead. The vaults built above the ground and the wall mausoleums tell the history of the area. The mementos left on tombs tell of the loved ones buried there. In Louisiana, more so I think, than anywhere else, we felt a sense of death in the midst of life and hope in the midst of death. We spoke with Cajuns (Acadians) who shared their traditions with us and welcomed us into their family memorials.
Visiting St. John the Evangel in Lafayette and Sacred Heart in Broussard, we experienced a reverence and peace. It was a blessed experience and brought to mind our own family memorials. Here are some ways that we fulfill the sacramental injunctions about honoring our dead. This was written for Memorial Day, but could be done anytime you need a connection with loved ones lost.
The Perfect Memorial Day Celebration
There's some controversy about fasting as a way to lose weight. Going without eating for long stretches can be dangerous. But regular, spiritual bread and water fasting can be beneficial health-wise and for losing weight. Here's how I lost found that out.
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