Bishop's Note: Burial Collects

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters,  I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well! We continue our examination of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer, and more specifically over the last several months we’ve been examining the Pastoral Rites. Last week we looked at the opening anthem that begins the actual burial. Today we cover the short section that immediately follows it, the burial collects. Each Eucharist has a collect and these ones are similar in their structure and place in the service but with unique meanings. They help gather the thoughts and intentions of the service and summarize them. The first one does a wonderful job of framing the burial in the context of Christ’s resurrection. When we as Christians look back at the resurrection it’s not us looking at something that’s myth or even just a historic event that we’re disconnected from, it’s us looking at an event with implications that reverberate throughout creation. We as Christians know that the resurrection wasn’t just a singular event, it’s a preview of what will happen to all the dead when Christ comes again. As Christians we live and die in the hope of the resurrection, not a vain hope like so many in the world, but a firm trust in the promises of Christ. The second collect hits on that even more for pastoral reasons. The death of a loved one is hard but the death of a child is even worse. The collect is still about the resurrection, but it emphasizes God’s mercy and our trust in that mercy in a way the first collect doesn’t. It’s not that the collects contradict each other at all, it’s just a question of what our situation is and what does that lead us to in prayer. And we get that in the third collect as well. The first two collects need to be said depending on whether the burial is for an adult or child, but this collect is optional. This collect lifts up in prayer the loved ones of the deceased. Including it is a great way to lift up a family that’s struggling with a death and not only ask God directly to act in their lives, but remind them of the trust they can place in him. I pray you all have a blessed first Sunday of Lent!

The Officiant then says The Lord be with you. People And with your spirit. Officiant Let us pray.   AT THE BURIAL OF AN ADULT O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that your servant N., being raised with Christ, may know the strength of his presence and rejoice in his eternal glory; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.   AT THE BURIAL OF A CHILD   O God, whose beloved Son took children into his arms and blessed them: Give us grace to entrust N. to your never-failing care and love, and bring us all to your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Officiant may add the following prayer Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding: deal graciously with those who mourn [especially _________]. Surround them with your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.