Homily

HOMILY GIVEN BY REV. CASPER FURNARI, PASTOR
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL FOR BROTHER ALOYSIUS RAPHAEL CECCHINI, FSC
CHURCH OF QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS
JANUARY 21, 2001

The one person we do not have to worry about this evening is the person we have come together to pray for and to bid our last farewell --- Brother Raphael!

As we mourn the death, we also celebrate the life and accomplishments of Brother Raphael. This gathering of so many people here tonight gives witness to the esteem in which Brother Raphael was held by those whose lives he touched. The story of Brother Raphael does not end here with his death. This is only the end of the earthly chapter, for a new and more glorious one has just begun.

He lived as a Christian Brother over 70 years -- 45 of those years he lived here in Brooklyn at Bishop Loughlin High School. I met Brother Raphael one and a half years ago as he was going for a stroll around the block with his aide and his walker. I have heard from so many that he would be here for Mass every day. He was truly loved and truly was a great example of a Christian Brother.

What a beautiful image the Book of Wisdom gives us: "The souls of the just are in the hand of God...they are in peace." When we are born into this world, we are received by someone's hands: the doctor, the nurse, the mid-wife. Then the newborn baby is prepared and very quickly placed in its mother's arms. And when we leave this world, how comforting and encouraging it is for us to know that we will be received by the "hand of God." Nothing less than the hand of Almighty God is protecting, safeguarding, leading, holding and loving Brother Raphael!

St. Paul tells us that HOPE will not leave us disappointed. As Christians, our HOPE is in JESUS CHRIST who died for all people... our HOPE is in the same JESUS who rose to life and promised His Apostles and all of us that where He is, we also may be. Brother Raphael HOPED in JESUS CHRIST.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus gives us a blueprint for our lives as Christians. He tells us if we try to live HIS way, we can "be glad and rejoice, for our reward in heaven is great."

When the moment of death came last Wednesday, it had to fill Brother with great joy as he heard Our Lord say: "Brother Raphael, you have fought the good fight, you have kept the faith...you have done well, my good and faithful servant. Enter now into the joy of your Master."

As we continue this Mass, we thank God for all that he did for Brother Raphael in life, and for all that He was able to do through Brother Raphael for all who knew him. As we commend Brother to Almighty God, may we have a sense of fulfillment and gratitude to God for the life of this good Christian Brother.

I only learned today that Brother Raphael was an avid stamp collector, so I would like to close with a prayer with philatelic overtones:

Almighty God, thank you for the many gifts you have given us. Thank you for re-issuing this precious package we call "life" each morning for the length of our days.

Pardon our bulk mailings of sin and pride.

Widen our horizons beyond zip codes to include a vision of Your Being and Beauty in the faces of all our brothers and sisters.

Fill our envelopes with goodness and peace.

And grant that when we are delivered for our final cancellation, we may not be stamped "addressee unknown,"

But may we be carried into Your Presence marked FIRST CLASS.

Amen.

11/06/2006