Funerals are not only a last tribute to loved ones who enter eternal life but provide a special time for reflection on this great mystery. This is what Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona reminded us during his brother Lino’s funeral Mass at the Divine Mercy Sanctuary recently.
He equally referred to the service dog attending this Mass who was present not as a pet but as a symbol of the joy he spread when visiting the elderly in St Vincent the Paul Home with Lino, who was devoted to voluntary work, including with Caritas.
Lino’s grandsons, though heartbroken, strongly testified to his dedication to replace the horror of drug addiction by Christian love. He left a legacy in their hearts and of many others to contribute towards helping people to have a personal encounter with Jesus and, therefore, to sell life as opposed to drug traffickers peddling death.
This was referred to by Davide Barbieri, an active volunteer with ACN invited to Malta to share his testimony of the struggle with destructive drug addiction by seeking Jesus who offers joy for free. His talks are themed ‘From darkness to the light’ in the hope of giving people a new perspective about both faith and life, letting Jesus guide us, being so close in the mystery of the Holy Eucharist.
The greatness of this reality was stressed by Mgr Cremona when he spoke of his brother as not only receiving Jesus but administering Holy Communion, thus bringing Jesus to others, as the role of every Christian should be in daily life.
During Lent, we are being presented with two profound experiences of meeting Jesus. That of Davide is an inspirational remarkable conversion on earth. Lino ‒ after longing for God ‒ is now enjoying eternal life in the actual presence of the Lord. Lino’s legacy of joy, commitment and values will continue to guide us.