‘I will miss this man’
HUNTERSVILLE — With song, Scripture and prayer, more than 500 people honored the memory of Pope Francis Wednesday night at the Diocese of Charlotte’s Mass for the repose of his soul, celebrated by Bishop Michael Martin at St. Mark Church.
“We come here tonight with Easter joy and heavy hearts, all at the same time, recognizing that a great spiritual leader has passed from our midst,” Bishop Martin said at the start of the Mass. Yet, “in this Easter season, we celebrate the promise that is made to us each and every one of us as God’s children, that we too will share eternal life with Him.”
In his homily, Bishop Martin said it was important to remember the full scope of Pope Francis’ life, not just his struggles with illness in his final months and his memorable last “Urbi et Orbi” blessing on Easter Sunday. He urged the congregation to reflect on each step, from his childhood to his life as a young man and a young priest, that led to him becoming the leader of the world’s Catholics.
At one point, the bishop confided his own grief over the loss of the Holy Father, saying his heart was heavy.
“I will miss this man,” he said simply.
Bishop Martin said the fact Pope Francis spent 38 days in the hospital struggling with pneumonia was a moving symbol of one of the signature phrases of his papacy.
“Pope Francis calls the Church to be a field hospital…and he calls all of us to be the doctors, the nurses, the attendants,” he said, to “bring life, and health and holiness” to others. “He calls us to go out into the world, where the broken and the bruised and the troubled and the neglected are hurting, and to not limit our church to these walls, but rather, go out and be that field hospital, to be present for a broken world.”
He also reminded people that despite his weakened condition, the pope stepped out into the “field hospital,” “bringing the message of Easter joy to a broken world.”
The pope’s example should challenge and inspire us, he said. “May we go forth from here with hearts filled with love, hearts filled with hope, hearts filled with faith to bring that message to the world – a message that we saw on full display the day before our Holy Father received his eternal reward.”
Music for the Mass included hymns in English and Spanish. The liturgy opened with “Pilgrims of Hope,” the official hymn for this Jubilee Year that Pope Francis declared.
Two songs were in Spanish, “Entre Tus Manos” (“Into Your Hands”), selected because it is a popular song among Hispanic Catholics and describes a soul surrendering to the Lord, said Manuel “Manny” Mora, St. Mark’s music director. The other Spanish hymn, “Alma Misionera” (“Missionary Song”), reflects the pope’s call to serve those in need.
A memento of Pope Francis was on display at the front of the church. Before a photo of the pope draped in black bunting, a single candle flickered near a white hat called a zucchetto that Pope Francis once wore. The story behind the zucchetto is that a nun visited Rome and bought a souvenir replica of it, then waved it at Pope Francis as he passed by in the popemobile.
He stopped and exchanged his own hat for the souvenir one. The nun later passed the hat on to one of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother who serve at St. Mark Parish.
After Mass, many people approached the altar to pray before the pope’s photo. One woman and her daughter approached the altar on their knees. Others took pictures of the photo among the array of flowers.
Parishioner Janet Lang fought back tears as she stared at the picture. “He was pope of the people, and he touched all of our hearts,” she said. “He did so much for the world.”
Phillip and Bailey Burcal attended the Mass with their three children: James, 10, Elizabeth, 7, and Matthew, 4. Bailey said they wanted to impress on them what Pope Francis had done for the Church and for the world. The kids recalled their own papal memories. James reflected on Pope Francis’ last visit to St. Peter’s Square on Easter and Emily commented on his commitment to service.
“We wanted to come celebrate the life of the pope as a family,” Bailey said. “The thing I will remember about him is his heart of service towards the Church and all the people of the world, and how he led so many of the marginalized back to the Church.”
— Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Troy C. Hull and Amy Burger.
Read more:
- Pope Francis has died at 88
- Pope Francis: A call to listen and respond in love
- Two bishops and diocese unite in prayer for Pope Francis
- Words of prayer, comfort offered after news of pope’s death
- Bishop Martin, others reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis
