An Angel of Mercy In Loving Remembrance Josephine A. Divita September 8, 1920 January 11, 2017 Born in Lisbon, Ohio, Daughter of the late Joseph and Carmella (Rubino) Divita Stark Memorial, Inc. * 1014 East Salem Street * Salem, Ohio 44460
January 13, 2017 How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in weary world. (William Shakespeare) GREETING Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Response: Amen Priest: Peace be with you. Response: And with your spirit. OPENING PRAYER Priest: God our Father, your Son assured us that you notice and are concerned about a single sparrow that falls from the sky. We are confident that Josephine has fallen into your loving hands and that you will take good care of her. Support us who grieve for her and comfort us with your loving protection. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Response: Amen 2
FIRST READING (18 : 8-14) A reading from the Book of Sirach What are mortals? What are they worth? What is good in them, and what is evil? The number of their days seems great if it reaches a hundred years. Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand, so are these few years among the days of eternity. That is why the Lord is patient with them and pours out his mercy on them. He sees and understands that their death is wretched, and so he forgives them all the more. Their compassion is for their neighbor, but the Lord s compassion reaches all flesh, Reproving, admonishing, teaching, and turning them back, as a shepherd his flock. He has compassion on those who accept his discipline, who are eager for his precepts. The Word of the Lord. Response: Thanks Be To God. 3
RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Psalm 84:4-8,12) Response: My soul is longing for the courts of the Lord. The sparrow finds herself a home and the swallow a nest for her brood; She lays her young by your altars, Lord of hosts, my king and my God. R. They are happy, who dwell in your house, for ever singing your praise. They are happy, whose strength is in you, In whose hearts are the roads to Sion. R. As they go through the Bitter Valley they make it a place of springs. They walk with ever growing strength, They will see the God of gods in Sion. R. For the Lord God is a rampart, a shield; he will give us his favour and glory. The Lord will not refuse any good to those who walk without blame. R. 4
GOSPEL (Matthew 10:26 30) Priest: The Lord be with you. Response: And with your spirit. Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew. Response: Glory to you, O Lord Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. The Gospel of the Lord.. Response: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. HOMILY 5
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL Response: Lord Hear Our Prayer 1. That Josephine may reap a rich harvest for all of the good that she did during her life, we pray to the Lord. R. Lord Hear Our Prayer 2. Josephine has departed her earthly home; may she safely reach the peace, the joy and the love of the Father's house, we pray to the Lord... R. Lord Hear Our Prayer 3. For those who mourn Josephine's passing: that they may be comforted by the faith that tells them she has gone to a better place, we pray to the Lord... R. Lord Hear Our Prayer 4. That from her place in the Kingdom of Heaven may she intercede for all of us, we pray to the Lord...R. Lord Hear Our Prayer 5. For all here present: that we may draw inspiration from the example of Josephine and so strive to live out in our own lives Christ s great commandment of love, we pray to the Lord..R. Lord Hear Our Prayer 6. For all our deceased relatives and friends that God may bring them into the light of His presence, we pray to the Lord... R. Lord Hear Our Prayer O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is bushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then, of your great mercy, grant us a safe lodging, a holy rest, and peace at last, through Jesus Christ. R. Amen 6
THE LORD S PRAYER Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen. 7
CLOSING PRAYER God of Endless Ages, from one generation to the next, you have been our refuge and strength. Before the mountains were born, or the earth came to be, you are God. Have mercy now on your servant, Josephine, whose long life was spent in your service. Give her a place in your Kingdom, where hope is firm for all who love and rest assure for all who serve. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Response: Amen Priest: May the angels lead you into paradise: may the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem. Eternal rest grant to her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. Response: May her soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace. Amen. 8
You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. The great acts of love are done by those who are habitually performing small acts of kindness. We pardon to the extent that we love. Love is knowing that even when you re alone, you will never be lonely again. Victor Hugo 9
Lessons Learned From Aunt Jo s Life and Legacy Be Good I was determined to live wisely and was devoted to the cause of goodness. I have no regrets. Sirach 51:18 Meaningful Life Their family line will go on forever, and their fame will never fade. Their bodies were laid to rest, but their reputations will live forever. Sirach 44:13-14 Mind Your Own Business A good life only lasts so long, but a good reputation will last forever. Sirach 41:13 Share Your Blessings The fear of the Lord is like a rich garden of blessings; you could not want a more glorious shelter. Sirach 40:27 abk Always Be Kind Acts of kindness and charity are as lasting as eternity Sirach 40:17 Hope Springs Eternal Gracefulness and beauty please the eye but not as much as new growth in the spring. Sirach 40:22 Live to Give! Gold and silver provide security, but good advice is better. Sirach 40:25 10
Lessons Learned From Aunt Jo s Life and Legacy Accept Everyone All food doesn t agree with everyone, and everyone doesn t like the same kinds of food. Sirach 37:28 Praise God First Give to the Most High as he has given to you, just as generously as you can. The Lord always repays and will do it many times over. Sirach 35:10-11 Be Independent. As long as you have breath in your body, don t let anyone lead your life for you. Sirach 33:20. Balanced Living A sound healthy body and a cheerful attitude are more valuable than gold and jewels. Sirach 30:15 Be Happy Happiness makes for a long life and makes it worth living. Sirach 30:22 Be Trustworthy Wounds can be bandaged and insults be forgiven but if you betray a confidence it is hopeless. Sirach 27:21 Be a Good Finder not a Fault Finder Instead of getting upset over your neighbors faults overlook them. Sirach 28:7 11
Lessons Learned From Aunt Jo s Life and Legacy Be a Hard Worker Like an inspired prophet I pour out my teaching so future generations can benefit from them. Please realize that I have not done all this hard work for myself alone but to help anyone who wants to be wise. Sirach 24:33-34 Be Obedient After she is gone, everyone will realize that nothing is better than fearing the Lord, nothing is better than keeping his commands. Sirach 23:27 Listen Patiently No one can stand a person who talks too long and will not give others a chance to speak. Sirach 20:8 Faith Matters Examine your conscience before the Lord judges you; when the time comes he will forgive you. Sirach 18:20 Be Charitable Never get tired of praying and never miss a chance to give to the poor. Sirach 7:10 We are God s Children One child who does the Lord s will is better than 1,000 who do not. It is better to go to your grave with no children at all than to have children who are godless. Sirach 16:3 12
Lessons Learned From Aunt Jo s Life and Legacy Jesus, Our Daily Vitamin of Hope If a person has a clear conscience and never gives up hope, he is certainly to be congratulated. Sirach 14:2 Solidarity Matters Give your help to the poor and the Lord will give you his perfect blessing. Be generous to every living soul and be gracious to the memory of the dead. Sirach 7:32-33 Be Unassuming Be very humble because the decay of death awaits us all. Sirach 7:17 Nurture Friendships A loyal friend is like a medicine that keeps you in good health. Only those who fear the Lord can find such a friend. A person who fears the Lord can make real friends because he will treat his friends as he does himself. Sirach 6:16-17 Be Confident Be certain about what you believe and consistent in what your say. Don t try to please everyone or agree with everything people say. Always be ready to listen and take your time in answering. Sirach 5:9-11 Be Humble Those who fear the Lord are always ready to serve him. They humble themselves before him always. Sirach 2:17 13
In thinking about Aunt Jo s life I just wondered and know only God alone has the answers to these questions. JUST WONDERING 1. How many Christian virtues did she reveal to us? 2. How may Masses she attended or watched on TV? 3. How may rosaries she prayed? 4. How may pilgrimages she made? 5. How many people she instructed in the faith through RCIA? 6. How many sacraments and ceremonies did she witness? 7. How many prayers she offered? 8. How many babies she delivered? 9. How may infants she baptized? 10. How many left her presence feeling healthier, happier, and holier? 11. How many seeds of goodness did she plant? 12. How much laughter and joy did she bring to the lives of others? 13. How many strangers did she befriend? 14. How many stray animals did she care for? 15. How many soups did she make for shut-ins? 16. How many neighbors did she reach out to? 17. How many countries she visited? 18. How many Cleveland Indian games she watched? 19. How many cards she sent? 14
20. How many hands of cards she played? 21. How many cookies cutters she really had? 22. How many cookies she baked? 23. How many birds she fed? 24. How many causes did she contribute to? 25. How many afghans did she crochet? 26. How many church garments did she embroider for the newborns? 27. How many yard sales and flea markets did she attend? 28. How many jokes she told? 29. How many stories she shared? 30. How many parades she attended? 31. How many books did she read? 32. How many dolls she collected? 33. How many people she attracted from all walks of life because of her diversity in various interests? 34. How many random acts of kindness did she show? 35. How many overtime hours did she have in her nursing profession? 36. How many picnics did she attend? 37. How many saints lives did she invoke? 38. How many special occasions in our lives did she attend? 39. How many friends did she have? 40. How many souls did she help? 15
A Blessing May the Lord always bless you, May the light of His face shine upon you. May you know His compassion and His mercy. May the Lord walk beside you forever. May the Lord look upon you with kindness. May the Lord fill your heart with His peace. May His love be forever within you, May the Lord always bless you and keep you. St. Joseph Church Richard S. Jones, Pastor 1304 Fourth Avenue Coraopolis, PA 15108 Phone: 412-264-6162 Www.stjosephcatholicchurch.net