Franciscan Wake Service

​Document in PDF format
Prayers of Farewell and Commendation at the Wake of a Secular Franciscan

Introduction
Welcome my Sister Death:

As Christians we believe that death has “lost its’ sting” through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  As Franciscans we believe even more strongly that “it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”  In the view of this faith stance, death takes on an entirely new meaning.  Thus we celebrate the passing of a sister or brother to a more fruitful life in the company of the saints.  We hope and trust in the promises of Christ.  Death teaches us to cling to the Cross of Christ with knowledge that having "been conformed with Him in His death, we will be conformed with Him in His resurrection from death.”  {PhiI.3:1O-11)

​​St. Francis life was to search and strive for union with Christ through faith.  Death for him was not a harsh reality, but the goal through which he passed toward his ultimate goal-total union with the Father.  What St. Francis sought through faith on earth, he achieved totally after death.  The death of a Franciscan shows forth the same faith as that which St. Francis possessed: our belief that death is the gateway to total union with God.

The Sermon on the Mount

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.