Thursday, March 19, 2020

Funeral homily for Robert Carpanini

Here is the text of the homily I prepared for the celebration of the requiem Mass for one of the residents of this city who died last week.


Funeral homily for Roberto Achille Carpanini

Robert Carpanini completed his earthly journey last Wednesday.  A few days later, we received a phone call from his brother, Rudolf.  I say that we received this phone call because poor Rudolf had to leave a message.  He explained that his brother had died and that there was some complication with arranging for the funeral, but it was absolutely imperative that a requiem Mass be celebrated.

The first reading that we heard today, taken from the second Book of Maccabees, recounts another moment in history when it was necessary to offer a sacrifice for the sins of those who had died.  It is interesting to note that even before Jesus lived on the earth, there was a practice among the Jews of offering such sacrifices.  In fact, offering such a sacrifice was seen as an action altogether fine and noble, prompted by a belief in the resurrection (2 Macc 12:43).  Even in these extraordinary times, when people are being asked to self isolate, we gather here today to pray for our brother Robert, for we too believe in the resurrection that is to come.

Roberto Achille Carpanini was born in Merthyr Tydfil (mer-theh tood-feel), South Wales, where his parents had emigrated following the First World War.  He was sent to school in the diocesan seminary of Bedonia, located between Genoa and Bologna in Northern Italy.  In fact, he ended up having to stay in Italy until the end of the Second World War.  Upon his return to Wales, he worked in the family restaurant and bakery and soon became a talented baker.  However, Bobby - that was the name by which many of his friends knew him - proved neither to be cut out for priesthood nor for the bakery.  His true passion was Formula I racing.  In fact, he once owned a Porche and satisfied his passion by taking part in more than one competition on the race track.

Like Robert, many of us have also travelled long and complicated roads in our search for the true meaning of our lives.  Our faith tells us that we will find meaning to the extent that we seek to fulfill the will of our loving God and Father, but this too can sometimes be a path that is not always clearly defined.  Even Jesus had moments when he prayed that the Father would take this cup away from him, ... but let it be as you, not I would have it (Mk 14:36).  We see the depth of his turmoil in the words he spoke with his final breaths: My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Mk 15:34).

Our brother Robert has completed his earthly journey.  His sufferings and toil are now behind him.  In the new light of day, like Mary Magdalene and the other women, we must now dare to look into the empty tomb.  The words they heard that day were confusing at first.  The angel said: He is risen!  He is not here (Mk 16:6).  But even in their confusion, they were filled with joy because they had heard him say that he was going to the Father.  This was a fulfillment of the promise that had been made.

Like those women, we too are quite certain about where our brother Robert has gone.  We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for all those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him to heaven, and we shall stay with the Lord forever.  With such thoughts as these, let us comfort one another (1 Thes 4:17-18).

This funeral was broadcast on Facebook.

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