"Take care above all things, most honored lady, not to insult God’s boundless loving kindness; you would certainly do this if you mourned as dead one living face to face with God, one whose prayers can bring you in your troubles more powerful aid than they ever could on earth. And our parting will not be for long; we shall see each other again in heaven; we shall be united with our Savior; there we shall praise him with heart and soul, sing of his mercies for ever, and enjoy eternal happiness. When he takes away what he once lent us, his purpose is to store our treasure elsewhere more safely and bestow on us those very blessings that we ourselves would most choose to have." (St. Aloysius of Gonzaga)

As the young Jesuit was dying he wrote a final letter to his mother, asking her not to mourn his death but to celebrate his new life in Christ. He reminds us that each of us should keep our eyes not on this life, which is passing, but on the life that is eternal with God, our true home and fulfilment. He affirms that the prayers of those in heaven are more efficacious than those on earth, because of the former's union with God. He affirms that death will separate us only for a short period of time, but we will be and see each other forever in God's presence. What an attitude to have when one is dying! What an attitude to  have when families go through the process of laying a loved one to rest!  Only one who has God as the focus of one's existence can maintain this attitude. That's our goal as we too journey to the Lord. "Our hearts are restless, until they rest in you, my God."