Fr. Felix, Fr. Mario, Bro. Damien, Bro. John, and I just got back from the wake of Mother Ann at the Monastery of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Danvers. Her sudden death was a real shock to all of the Sisters. As I said to them, we are praying to Mother Ann for all of them.
The nuns have the custom of placing the original copy of the profession of first vows in the hands of the deceased in the casket. Mother Ann entered the convent in 1961 right here in Danvers. Her whole religious life was spent in this monastery.
The nuns have the custom of using a very simply casket. It is a simple wooden box and the body lies on a bed of straw. It is similar to the caskets made by the Trappist monks that have been used in the funerals of some of our priests in Florida.
I like the simplicity of it, and have left instructions that I would like that type of casket when the Lord calls me home.
We will all attend the funeral tomorrow with the exception of Fr. Felix who willbe offering the 12 noon Mass in the Mall Chapel.