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Ten Habits to Deepen your Soul For a Future Happy Marriage

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Ten Habits to Deepen your Soul For a Future Happy Marriage

Pray regularly and cultivate a relationship with God.

Prayer is a crucial part of the Catholic faith and can help you develop a deeper relationship with God. This can include regular daily prayer, such as the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet, as well as setting aside time for quiet contemplation and reflection. By making prayer a regular part of your daily routine, you can grow closer to God and seek His guidance in all aspects of your life. This can help you make decisions that align with Catholic teachings and values, and can provide comfort and support during difficult times.

Attend Mass and participate in the sacraments regularly.

Attending Mass and participating in the sacraments, such as Holy Communion and Reconciliation, are important practices for Catholics. By regularly participating in these sacraments, you can strengthen your relationship with God and the Church community. Attending Mass also allows you to hear the Word of God and to participate in the Eucharist, which is the central sacrament of the Catholic faith. By regularly participating in the sacraments, you can grow in your understanding of the Catholic faith and your relationship with God.

Read and study the Bible and other spiritual books.

Reading and studying the Bible and other spiritual books is a great way to deepen your understanding of the Catholic faith and to grow in your relationship with God. The Bible is the holy book of the Catholic Church and contains the inspired Word of God. By reading and studying the Bible, you can learn more about God’s plan for your life and His teachings for how to live a good and faithful life. In addition to the Bible, there are many other spiritual books written by Catholic saints and other spiritual leaders that can provide guidance and inspiration on your spiritual journey. By reading and studying these works, you can gain a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith and learn how to apply its teachings to your daily life.

Develop a strong moral foundation based on Catholic teachings.

As a young Catholic, it is important to develop a strong moral foundation based on the teachings of the Catholic Church. This means learning about and understanding Catholic moral teachings on issues such as sexuality, marriage, and social justice. It also means striving to live your life in accordance with these teachings, even when it may be difficult or challenging. By developing a strong moral foundation, you can make decisions that are in line with Catholic values and that reflect your commitment to living a good and faithful life. This can help you to live a life of integrity and can serve as a guide for your future choices and actions.

Practice forgiveness and seek to resolve conflicts in a healthy and constructive manner.

Forgiveness is a central tenet of the Catholic faith, and it is important for young Catholics to cultivate a spirit of forgiveness in their lives. This means letting go of anger, resentment, and bitterness towards those who have wronged you and seeking to reconcile with them. It also means striving to resolve conflicts in a healthy and constructive manner, rather than resorting to anger or aggression. By practicing forgiveness and seeking peaceful resolutions to conflicts, you can model Christ-like behavior and live in accordance with Catholic teachings on love and mercy. This can also help to improve your relationships and create a more positive and harmonious environment in your life.

Cultivate healthy communication and listening skills.

Healthy communication and listening skills are important for building and maintaining strong relationships, including romantic relationships. As a young Catholic, it is important to cultivate these skills so that you can effectively communicate your thoughts, feelings, and needs to others. This means being an active listener, paying attention to what the other person is saying and truly trying to understand their perspective. It also means expressing yourself clearly and openly, without resorting to anger or aggression. By developing healthy communication and listening skills, you can foster stronger and more fulfilling relationships in all areas of your life, including your future marriage.

Take time to reflect on your own thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Reflection and self-examination are important practices for young Catholics. This means taking time to think about your own thoughts, feelings, and actions, and considering how they align with Catholic teachings and values. It can be helpful to set aside time for regular personal reflection, such as through journaling or meditating. This can help you to gain insight into your own thoughts and motivations, and to identify areas where you may need to make changes in order to live a more faithful and virtuous life. By regularly engaging in self-reflection, you can grow in self-awareness and make choices that are in line with your Catholic faith.

Seek out mentors and role models who can guide you in your spiritual journey.

Having mentors and role models who can provide guidance and support on your spiritual journey can be incredibly beneficial. These can be people you know personally, such as a priest, religious sister, or trusted friend, or they can be spiritual leaders or saints who you admire from a distance. By seeking out mentors and role models, you can gain valuable insights and guidance on how to live a good and faithful life. They can provide support and encouragement during difficult times, and can offer guidance on how to navigate challenges and make decisions that align with your Catholic faith.

Serve others in your community and strive to live a life of generosity and compassion.

Serving others and living a life of generosity and compassion are important practices for young Catholics. This can mean volunteering your time and talents to help those in need, such as at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. It can also mean being mindful of the needs of those around you and striving to be compassionate and understanding. By serving others and showing compassion, you can model Christ-like behavior and follow in His footsteps. This can also help to enrich your own life and can provide a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

Trusting in God’s plan for your life can bring a sense of peace and direction.

It’s natural to want to know what the future holds, but sometimes it can be difficult to discern God’s will for our lives. The best way to try and understand His plan is to spend time in prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking guidance from wise and trusted individuals, such as a pastor or spiritual director. It’s also important to remember that God’s plans may not always align with our own desires and expectations, and it’s through surrendering our own plans to His that we can truly trust in His guidance.

Remember these words of Jesus and be at peace

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We all go through rough situations in our lives and some people experience pain so profound it throws them into a state of universal skepticism. They question even their faith in God and the value of their lives. Jesus is always available to us in the Sacrament and in the scriptures to calm our souls and give us peace. Here are a few powerful quotes to keep close to your heart on such occasions:

John 14:1

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Luke 12:25-27

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”

Luke 12:32

 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Matthew 10:29-31

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 14:27

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

John 16:33

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 20:26

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

Did you know Josef Ratzinger was once a prisoner of war?

Here are some interesting facts about Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

POW:

After his birth on April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn, in southeastern Germany near the Austrian border, Ratzinger’s early years were defined by his country and the turbulent times, as well as his faith.

Adolf Hitler rose to power during Ratzinger’s adolescent years in Traunstein, in the heavily Catholic region of Bavaria. When he was 14, school officials followed Nazi officials’ orders and enrolled him and the rest of his class in the Hitler Youth movement – against his will, Ratzinger wrote in his memoir.

He left the organization shortly thereafter, because he was studying for the priesthood. But in 1943, Ratzinger was brought back into the Nazi fold upon being drafted into the German army.

For the next two years, Ratzinger served his country as part of an anti-aircraft unit. But in the waning days of World War II, he deserted – and was taken prisoner by the U.S. Army.

According to CNN Senior Vatican Analyst John Allen, Ratzinger’s family was strongly, if quietly, anti-Nazi and his father took a series of less significant jobs to steer clear from what was happening under Hitler.

In June 1945, Ratzinger was released from a POW camp. Hitching a ride on a milk truck, he headed home.

Here are some other facts about him:

• On April 16, 2008, Benedict XVI celebrated his 81st birthday, and on that day he was at the White House, after which he attended a prayer service with bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D. C.

• Two students from the Catholic University of America designed the altar upon which the Holy Father celebrated Mass at Nationals’ Park

• Kelly Clarkson, the first season’s winner of the television talent show American Idol, sang for Benedict XVI at Saint Joseph Seminary. One of the hymns she will sang was Ave Maria.

• On April 20, 2008 the Benedict XVI visited Ground Zero and celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium. Harry Connick, Jr., Jose Feliciano, and Dana performed for the Holy Father at Yankee Stadium before the Mass.

• Benedict XVI has a pilot’s license, and liked to fly from the Vatican to the papal summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, but he does not have a driver’s license as he never learned to drive a car.

• Weideneder Brau Vertriebs GmbH, a family-owned brewery in nearby Tann, Germany, created a special brew called Pabstbier/Pope Beer. The label reads, “Dedicated to the Great Son of our Homeland, Pope Benedict XVI.”

• Benedict XVI was the youngest of three children whose father, Joseph Sr., was a police officer. His brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, is a retired priest.

• Benedict XVI’s sister Maria was his housekeeper until she died at the age of 69.

• At the age of 16, Josef Ratzinger was drafted into the German army.

• Benedict XVI is fluent in German, English, Italian, French, and Spanish and has knowledge of Portuguese. Naturally, he can also speak classical Latin.

• Benedict enjoys playing the piano and listening to the music of Mozart and Bach daily.

• Benedict XVI loves cats, and had two of his own. One was a stray which he found in Rome.

• Benedict still has the stuffed animals his mother made for him when he was a child.

• Benedict XVI’s favorite meal is Bavarian potato ravioli with pancake strips.

The absence of deterioration in the Guadalupe tilma is a mystery to scientists.

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Researcher and physicist Dr. Aldofo Orozco told participants at the International Marian Congress on Our Lady of Guadalupe that there is no scientific explanation for the 478 years of high quality-preservation of the Tilma or for the miracles that have occurred to ensure its preservation.

Dr. Orozco began his talk by confirming that the conservation of the Tilma, the cloak of St. Juan Diego on which Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared 478 years ago, “is completely beyond any scientific explanation.”

Our Lady of Guadalupee
Our Lady of Guadalupee

“All the cloths similar to the Tilma that have been placed in the salty and humid environment around the Basilica have lasted no more than ten years,” he explained. One painting of the miraculous image, created in 1789, was on display in a church near the basilica where the Tilma was placed. “This painting was made with the best techniques of its time, the copy was beautiful and made with a fabric very similar to that of the Tilma. Also, the image was protected with a glass since it was first placed there.”

However, eight years later, the copy of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was thrown away because the colors were fading and threads were breaking. In contrast, Orozco said, “the original Tilma was exposed for approximately 116 years without any kind of protection, receiving all the infrared and ultraviolet radiation from the tens of thousands of candles near it and exposed to the humid and salty air around the temple.”

Dr. Orozco then discussed the Tilma’s fabric. He noted that “one of the most bizarre characteristics of the cloth is that the back side is rough and coarse, but the front side is ‘as soft as the most pure silk, as noted by painters and scientists in 1666, and confirmed one century later in 1751 by the Mexican painter, Miguel Cabrera.”

Following an analysis of some of the fibers in 1946, it was concluded that the fibers came from the Agave plant, however, noted Dr. Orozco, the researchers couldn’t figure out which of the 175 Agave species the Tilma was made from. Years later, in 1975, “the famous Mexican researcher Ernesto Sodi Pallares said that the species of the agave was Agave popotule Zacc,” Orozco explained, “but we don’t know how he reached this conclusion.”

Before concluding his presentation, Dr. Orozco made mention of two miracles associated with the Tilma.

The first occurred in 1785 when a worker accidentally spilled a 50 percent nitric acid solvent on the right side of the cloth. “Besides any natural explanation, the acid has not destroyed the fabric of the cloth, indeed it has not even destroyed the colored parts of the image,” Orozco said.

The second miracle was the explosion of a bomb near the Tilma in 1921. Dr. Orozco recalled that the explosion broke the marble floor and widows 150 meters from the explosion, but “unexpectedly, neither the Tilma nor the normal glass that protected the Tilma was damaged or broken.” The only damage near it was a brass crucifix that was twisted by the blast.

He continued, “There are no explanations why the shockwave that broke windows 150 meters afar did not destroy the normal glass that protected the image. Some people said that the Son by means of the brass crucifix protected the image of His Mother. The real fact is that we don’t have a natural explanation for this event.”

Dr. Orozco thanked the audience for listening to his presentation and closed by reassuring them that “Our Lady visited Mexico 478 years ago, but she remains there to give Her Love, Her Mercy and Her Care to anyone who needs it, and to bring Her Son, Jesus Christ to everyone who receives Him.”

Six ways to be a good catholic husband

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Being a good Catholic husband involves taking your marriage vows seriously and striving to be the best husband and partner you can be. Here are six ways you can be a good Catholic husband:

Be faithful and show respect to your wife.

This means being loyal and true to your wife in every way, and not engaging in any behavior that could be considered unfaithful or disloyal. The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a sacred union in which a man and a woman become one flesh. As a husband, it is your responsibility to love and respect your wife as a fellow child of God and a partner in your marriage. This means treating her with kindness, compassion, and understanding, and always putting her needs before your own.

Support your wife

A good husband should be supportive of his wife, both emotionally and practically. This means being there for her when she needs someone to talk to, and providing her with the help and support she needs to accomplish her goals and dreams.

Communicate openly and honestly

Good communication is essential in any marriage, and this is especially true in a Catholic marriage. Make sure you are open and honest with your wife about your feelings and thoughts and encourage her to do the same.

Be involved in your family, and be a good dad to your kids

It is important to be involved in the day-to-day life of your family. This means taking an active role in parenting, helping with household chores, and being present and engaged in your family’s activities and events. You also have a special role in the spiritual upbringing of your children. This means teaching them about the Catholic faith, setting a good example for them to follow, and providing them with the guidance and support they need to grow in their relationship with God.

Practice your faith together, lead in the practice.

Catholicism is a faith that emphasizes the importance of community and shared spiritual practices. As a Catholic husband, it is important to practice your faith together with your wife and family and to support each other in your spiritual journeys. This could involve attending Mass together, praying together, and participating in other religious activities as a family. You need to be the rock of the family in your leadership in spiritual matters, so you need to set yourself up as the source of faith in your family. Attend masses regularly, pray and visit the Blessed Sacrament. Be holy and set a good example for your family to follow. By going close to God you will find it easier and pleasurable even, to be faithful to your wife and kids, by practicing chastity and showing your kids the value of being true.

Serve others in your community

As a Catholic, you are called to serve others and to be a positive influence in your community. This can take many forms, such as volunteering at a local charity, helping out at your parish, or simply being there for a friend or neighbor in need. By serving others, you can help to build a stronger and more loving community, and show your family the importance of helping those in need.

12 things to look for in a prospective marital partner

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Here are 12 things that you may want to consider when looking for a prospective marital partner to create a stable Catholic home:

Compatibility: It is important to find someone who you are compatible with in terms of your values, beliefs, and goals for the future.

Communication: A healthy relationship is built on open and honest communication. Look for someone who is willing to listen to your thoughts and feelings and who can express themselves clearly and respectfully.

Trust: Trust is an essential part of any relationship. Look for someone who is trustworthy and who can be relied upon to be faithful, honest, and reliable.

Respect: Mutual respect is crucial in a healthy relationship. Look for someone who respects your boundaries, opinions, and decisions and who treats you with kindness and compassion.

Support: A good partner will be supportive of your goals, dreams, and ambitions. Look for someone who is willing to encourage and motivate you to reach your full potential.

Commitment: A committed partner will be dedicated to the relationship and willing to work through challenges and obstacles together. Look for someone who is committed to building a strong and lasting relationship.

Shared values: It is important to find someone who shares your values and beliefs. Look for someone who has a similar perspective on important issues such as politics, family orientation, and moral values.

Emotional intelligence: Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. Look for someone who is emotionally intelligent and can navigate difficult situations with empathy and understanding.

Flexibility: A good partner will be flexible and adaptable to change. Look for someone who is open-minded and willing to try new things and explore different perspectives.

Confidence: Confidence is important in a relationship. Look for someone who is confident in themselves and their abilities and who is not afraid to take risks and pursue their dreams.

Humility: Humility is the quality of being humble and modest. Look for someone who is humble and willing to admit their mistakes and learn from them.

Kindness: Kindness is an essential quality in any relationship. Look for someone who is kind, compassionate, and considerate of your feelings and needs.

The most important aspect is to ensure that they are all these things on their own rather than simply with you. Some people are not kind to other people, and if they are not, they are not kind people. Some people pretend or intend to change their ways when they meet someone they love. But the journey for change does not always pan out and in the end they go back to what they know. So be watchful.

Quick read: How to be a good Catholic Dad

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Being a good Catholic dad involves living out the principles and teachings of the Catholic Church in your daily life. This means striving to follow the Ten Commandments and practicing the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. It also means attending Mass regularly and participating in other sacraments, such as confession and communion.

As a Catholic dad, you should also take an active role in teaching your children about the faith. This can include reading the Bible and other religious texts with them, talking to them about the teachings of the Church, and taking them to religious education classes.

In addition to spiritual matters, being a good Catholic dad also means being a good father in other ways. This means being present and involved in your children’s lives, providing for their physical and emotional needs, and being a positive role model for them.

It is also important to be a supportive and loving husband to your wife. This means treating her with respect and kindness, and working together as a team to raise your children in the Catholic faith.

Overall, being a good Catholic dad requires a commitment to living out the teachings of the Church and being a loving and supportive father and husband.

Is it right to kiss the Eucharist?

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Question: Is it right for a faithful to kiss the eucharist before receiving?

Answer:

One of the things to remember while at Mass is the Sacrifice is offered by Jesus the Head and we participate as members of his Body. So there must be unity of actions and voice. This is why the Catholic Church issued the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), to direct all the faithful on what must be done together during the celebration of the Eucharist. So for the reception of the Eucharist the GIRM says:

When receiving Holy Communion, the communicant bows his or her head before the Sacrament as a gesture of reverence and receives the Body of the Lord from the minister. The consecrated host may be received either on the tongue or in the hand, at the discretion of each communicant. When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the sign of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood.

GIRM 160

So kissing the Eucharist would’ve been okay if the celebration was more private than public. But the Church regulates every aspect of public worship in order that the meaning be preserved throughout the generations. And also to give the faithful the opportunity to participate in the obedience of Christ in doing the will of the Father.

So, I’d say no, kissing the Eucharist should not be allowed, even though the thought behind it (reverence to the Lord in the Eucharist) should be encouraged and the expression channeled elsewhere. Perhaps you can practice something of a spiritual “kiss”, wherein you move only your heart to the gesture when you have received Jesus.

Is it a lie to tell children about Santa Claus?

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Is it a lie to tell children about Santa Claus?

Full Question:

It seems to me that telling children about Santa Claus is a willful lie and I do not know what the Church says about such a thing.

Answer:

I have never read any Church document on Santa but I do understand what you mean about willful lies. However, in this case, it does not hold. The point of a lie is to deceive, hence even a factual statement made with the goal to deceive is a lie.

In the case of Santa Claus, people relate to it as stories that carries moral objectives for their children. Depending on how the custom is in your household though. I personally do not indulge in the Santa culture but I do not think it is lying to tell your children such stories. They always grow up to know they were legends and generally kids do not grow old to resent their parents for “lying about Santa”.

Even in the Church, there are stories of heroic virtue about people that really did not exist or that we are not sure did. But such stories aren’t told because of their historical accuracy but mostly because of the virtue they demonstrate and inspire. So, if Santa stories inspire your kids to behave, maybe it’s not such a bad thing. But if your conscience tells you it’s a lie, then stop. But please do not feel obligated to ruin things for families who have a different view by announcing the inexistence of Santa to their kids, that is one way to really piss off your neighbors and be really unchristian.

Is it a lie to tell children about Santa Claus?

Prayer for the Morning. November 8, 2022.

Prayer for the Morning. November 8, 2022.

Come, let us worship the Lord our God,
who leads us from death to life!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

Meter: LM
This hymn can be sung to the tune used for
I Know That My Redeemer Lives

O turn to Jesus, Mother, turn,
And call him by his tenderest names;
Pray for the holy souls that burn
This hour amid the cleansing flames.

They are the children of your tears;
Then hasten, Mother, to their aid;
In pity think each hour appears
An age while glory is delayed.

Ah, me! the love of Jesus yearns
O’er the abyss of sacred pain,
And, as he looks, his bosom burns
With Calvary’s dear thirst again.

O Mary, let your Son no more
His lingering spouses thus expect:
God’s children to their God restore,
And to the Spirit his elect.

Canticle of Tobit 13:1-5a, 7-8

He made atonement for the dead, that they might be freed from sin. (cf. 2 Mc 12:46)

Purgatory is not an eternal punishment, but a place of preparation, of making satisfaction for the effects of sin, and of being made ready for the eternal wedding feast of the Lamb. As we pray for our brothers and sisters in purgatory, let us live our earthly lives preparing for this union with Christ.

Blessed be God who lives forever,
because his kingdom lasts for all ages.

For he scourges and then has mercy;
he casts down to the depths of the nether world,
and he brings up from the great abyss.
No one can escape his hand.

Praise him, you Israelites, before the Gentiles,
for though he has scattered you among them,
he has shown you his greatness even there.

Exalt him before every living being,
because he is the Lord our God,
our Father and God forever.

He scourged you for your iniquities,
but will again have mercy on you all.

As for me, I exalt my God,
and my spirit rejoices in the King of heaven.
Let all men speak of his majesty,
and sing his praises in Jerusalem.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible. It is sown dishonorable; it is raised glorious. It is sown weak; it is raised powerful. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one.

The one who raised Christ from the dead will give life
to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit
that dwells in you. (Rom 8:11)

Canticle of Zechariah

Our savior Christ Jesus destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (cf. 2 Tm 1:10)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet
of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

God created us not only for this earthly life but for union with him forever. In confidence we pray:

R/May those who sleep in death live with you for ever!

Purify those souls still held fast by the sins of their earthly lives,
– that they may be ready to stand in your presence for all eternity. R/

Inspire us to pray and do penance for the holy souls,
– especially our loved ones and those who have no one to pray for them. R/

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
– and may perpetual light shine upon them. R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

All-powerful and ever-living God, who created humankind for an everlasting sharing in your communion of love, grant that the faithful departed may be freed from every stain of sin and enjoy eternal rest in our heavenly homeland. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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