Why wasn’t JPII put into the ground in a simple shroud

Since today is 3 years since the very affecting funeral of John Paul II, thought I’d repost:

An email from a reader:I’m asking this because I think you will answer me respectfully. The service today was beautiful but wasn’t it too much? Jesus was buried in a simple shroud, and he was God. What we saw today bordered on idolatry. I have no problems with Catholics, I do believe you are Christians, but I think you are misguided on this.

Sigh. Really, I am NOT an apologist. I have no energy for it, and don’t feel called to it as others do. But…thank you for your question.

Look, I don’t know your background, or what your denomination is, but I’m assuming it’s “bible-based” and big on singing and short on liturgy, so maybe that’s what strikes you wrong. If I am wrong, please let me know. I’m at a loss to understand precisely what was offensive. Was it all the scripture contained in the readings and responses, throughout the mass, from Lord, have mercy… to Holy, Holy, Holy… to Lord, I am not worthy…?

I can’t imagine that is what is troubling you. If what bothered you was the size and scope of the mass, well…it’s a global age. In Jesus’ time he managed to draw crowds numbering in the tens of thousands, but everyone was traveling by foot or camel. I think the crowd you saw today was proportionate to the means of travel and the avaliability of communications technology. So, again, I don’t understand what is troubling you.

I gather, since you mention the burial of Christ, it is perhaps the burial of the pope, and the pomp preceeding it, which troubled you.

A few points: Jesus was buried in the manner of a wealthy man of his time – in a private cave hewn for the purpose and originally purchased by Joseph of Arimathea, so it could be argued that outside of pyramids and King’s tombs, Jesus’ burial was not quite “humble” for the time, but rather the arrangements (though rushed for Passover) could be construed as slightly better than average. He was wrapped in a shroud because that’s what was done, and is still done in that part of the world.

You could argue that the average American citizen who has a wake, then a funeral service, flowers, an expensive casket, pall bearers with dignified bearing, readings, grieving and a supper to follow, celebrating that person’s life, had a much more elaborate burial than Jesus, who was (IS) God. So what? Times and customs and cultures do have an effect on things. If a beloved family member of yours dies, are you going to limit his or her burial to a shroud and a howdy do, because that’s all Jesus got?

Remember, when Jesus was buried, his apostles didn’t know he was God. They thought he was a prophet. They’d thought maybe he was the messiah, but then, you know…he didn’t come through with the liberation, etc, and he was tortured and killed and his followers went into hiding. They didn’t KNOW what they had, among them, until later. Had they known, well…who knows? :-)

The liturgy – that whole mass you saw today, beautifully sung, beautifully carried out, was not for John Paul, per se. Yes, it commended him to God and it celebrated his faithful service, but the liturgy was meant – as it is ALWAYS meant – for us. We are humans, and when something important happens, as the loss of a loved one, our hearts hunger for beauty as well as meaning, for beauty is another transcendent means to God. And so millions came to Rome to see off a servant of Christ, and for their efforts, they saw beauty, they heard and felt beauty, had the opportunity to pay their own tribute (“Sancto!”) and most importantly they got to to Commune with the Lord Jesus Christ in Holy Communion.You’ll notice that the people kneeling in St. Peters, on the cobblestone, were not kneeling for JPII; they were kneeling while Communing with the Lord.

Liturgy does not only teach, it also entertains. That sounds wrong, but I mean it in a good way – it lifts our hearts, minds and spirits. If you belong to an Evangelical church, you probably have musicians and singers at your service, and that music they provide is uplifting, it brings another dimension to worship. Just so with the liturgy, and with all of that “pomp.” It is for us. JPII doesn’t care, he’s already in heaven!

So he is remembered with love. He is dressed in fine robes (when we buried Grandma we put her in her best dress – what else?). His casket is incensed, because incense has been part of our worship left over from our Judaic roots. The angel in revelation disperses incense in an incensor, so I don’t think God has a problem with it. Then, after the mass, the Rite of Christian burial, his body was solemnly processed and lain to rest.

It is all we would do for any of our loved ones, just on a scale calculated to uplift not just thirty or forty, but a couple billion.

Is it the three caskets that is bothering you? Well, there are reasons for that. The first is that there have been times in the history of Christendom when bodies of priests and popes and saints have been disrespected by those who hate, and perhaps TOO venerated by those who love. Three caskets does sort of put the damper on that possibility! But there are other reasons, as well. The humble cypress casket is a symbol of humanity and humility. The leaden casket helps to slow the deterioration of the body.

Why is this important? I dunno. Maybe some Italian Mama along the way – a precursor to the sort of Italian Mama who puts plastic on the sofa – gave people the heebiejeebies about the body getting damp! :-)

But the thing is, if and when a man or woman is being seriously considered for sainthood, their body is disinterred, and investigated. For a couple reasons – but mostly because there has been a curious phenomenon over the years, attending to these people, in that sometimes their bodies do not corrupt, at least not at the rate, or in the manner, of the rest of us. And it’s not true of ALL saints, but its been true of enough of them (some of whom were buried in pine boxes and mud, some of whom had floods in their graves) that you know…put him in a lead box, and we’ll see what we get in twenty years.

And the last box, simple oak, simply contains his name and the dates of his pontificate. I don’t think ANY of this is a big deal. When Grandpa died, he was buried. His grave had a cement liner. It’s pretty much the same idea. Maybe it’s the culture – we’re all sticklers for tying things up neatly – but I don’t see the idolatry you’re talking about.

And if you mean the crowds chanting “Sancto! Sancto!” Well…at my son’s high school, one of the athletes just died, tragically, of cancer. The funeral convoy drove past the school, and all of the students had assembled outside. They stood solemnly and then applauded and waved to the hearse and to his parents, shouting his name, his hockey number, and saying, “We’ll miss you! Your son was great!” and other such things. Was that idolatry, or a simple, heartfelt last opportunity to praise a much-loved student?

It’s just a tribute. No one left St. Peter’s today having WORSHIPPED Karol Wojtyla, and no one left there unsure of who is the Savior of the world.

But…they did leave St. Peter’s with full hearts, having had a chance to do what my son’s classmates did for their fallen friend, to remember and pay a little tribute, and they got to do it surrounded by visual and aural beauty so that all of their senses participated in the Worship of God. Again, I just don’t see the problem.

But I’m glad you wrote to me about your concerns, and I hope I helped put them to rest. If I haven’t all I can say is…I’m not that smart. Someone else may do much better!

Don’t be so afraid of a little liturgy. BE NOT AFRAID!

PS…speaking only for myself, that funeral today made me long to hear more (or, ANY) Gregorian Chant at mass. I really hunger for it. Enough of the feel-good campfire-type songs, please!