A Voice From Afar

Weep not for me…
Be blithe as won’t, nor tinge with gloom
The stream of love that circles home
Light hearts and free
Joy in the gifts Heaven’s bounty lends
Nor miss my face dear friends
I still am near…Watching the smiles I prized on earth
Your converse mild, your blameless mirth
Now too I hear of whisper’d sounds the tale complete
Low prayers and musings sweet
A sea before the Throne is spread…its pure still glass
Pictures all earth scenes as they pass
We on its shore, share in the bosom of our rest
God’s knowledge and are blest.

Blessed John Henry Newman 1801-1890

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Speak To Him

Speak to Him thou for he hears
And Spirit with Spirit can meet
Closer is He than breathing
and nearer than hands and feet.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson 1809-1892

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Emily Dickinson

I shall know why, when time is over
And I have ceased to wonder why
Christ will explain each separate anguish
In the fair schoolroom of the sky.

Emily Dickinson 1830-1886

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Prepare us O Lord

We seem to give them back to thee, O God, who gavest them to us.
Yet as thou didst not lose them in the giving,
so we do not lose them by their return.
Not as the world givith, givist thou, O lover of souls.
What Thou givist, thou takest not away,
for what is Thine is also ours if we are Thine.
And life is eternal and love is immortal and death is only a horizon,
and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.
Lift us up, strong Son of God, that we may see much further,
cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly,
draw us closer to Thyself that we may know ourselves
to be nearer to our loved ones who are now with Thee. 
And while Thou dost prepare a place for them, 
prepare us also for that happy place, 
that where Thou art we may also be for ever more.

Bede Jarrett 1881-1934

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From Dewy Dreams

From dewy dreams, my soul, arise
From love’s deep slumber and from death
For lo! the trees are full of sighs
Whose leaves the morn admonisheth

Eastward the gradual dawn prevails
Where softly burning fires appear
Making to tremble all those veils
Of Grey and Golden gossamer

While sweetly, gently, secretly
The flowery bells of morn are stirred
And the wise choirs of faery
Begin (innumerous) to be heard.

James Joyce, Dublin 1882-1941

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My Weary Soul

O Love that wilt not let me go
I rest my weary soul in Thee
I give Thee back the gift I owe
That in Thine, ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

George Matheson

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On Another’s Sorrow

Can I see another’s woe
And not be in sorrow too?
Can I see another’s grief
And not seek for kind relief?
Can I see a falling tear
And not feel my sorrow’s share?
Can a father see his child
Weep, nor be with sorrow fill’d?

William Blake 1757-1827

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Thoughts of you

As a perfume doth remain in the folds where it hath lain,
So the thought of you, remaining
Deeply folded in my brain, will not leave me:
All things leave me; you remain.
Pale as with pain, breath fails me when
the hour tolls deep.
My thoughts recover the days that are over
And I weep.

Arthur Symons 1865-1945

Roses

Till Roses lose their petals
Till the heather has lost its dew
Till the end of time, dear Mother
We will remember you.

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Bunch

If roses grow in Heaven
Lord please pick a bunch for me
Place them in my mother’s arms
And tell her they’re from me.
Tell her I love her and miss her
And when she turns to smile
Place a kiss upon her cheek
And hold her for awhile

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Dearest Mum

Things I feel most deeply
Are the hardest things to say
Dearest Mum, I loved you
In a very special way.
If I could have one lifetime wish
One dream that could come true
I’d pray to God with all my heart
For yesterday and You.

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Memory Book

Our hearts are like a memory book
Its Pages dear Mother
Hold all the living thoughts of You
Recorded year by year.
A book of golden yesterdays
Bound with love and care
A rare edition Mother dear
Because you’re treasured there.

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Smile

When we remember your smile
It brightens our day
And thoughts of your warmth and love
Seem to smooth the way.
Your gentle spirit is still with us
Though you are gone
Sunny days, cool breezes..
Always for you Mum

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Not Forgotten

We mention your name
And speak of you often
God Bless you dear Mother
You are not forgotten.

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Lips

My Lips cannot tell how I miss her
My heart cannot tell what to say
God alone knows how I miss her
In a home that is lonesome today.

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Lifetime

Things I feel most deeply
Are the hardest things to say
Dearest Mum, I loved you
In a very special way.
If I could have one lifetime wish
One dream that could come true
I’d pray to God with all my heart
For yesterday and You.

God knows how much I miss her
Never shall her memory fade
Loving thoughts shall ever wander
To the spot where she is laid.

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Paths

Oh how we wish she was here today
To see all the blessings we have
Yet somehow you know that she is
Guiding us on our paths

World to Give

If we had all the world to give
We’d give it, yes, and more…
To hear his voice, see his smile
And greet him at the door.
But all we can do dear father
Is go and tend your grave
And leave behind tokens of love
To the best Dad God made.

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Special Word

Dad is such a special word
A word that brings to mind
A big warm smile, a helping hand
A way of being kind.
Devotion to the family
A word of patience too
“Dad” is such a special word
Because it stands for “You”.

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Hours

Dad is gone but not forgotten
And, as dawns another year
In lonely hours of thinking
Thoughts of him are always near.
Many think the wound is healed
But little do they know
of the sorrow
That lies in the heart concealed.

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Dear Father

Dear Father, You are not forgotten
Though on earth you are no more
Still in memory you are with us
As you always were before.

In our hearts your memory lingers
Sweetly tender, fond and true
There is not a day dear Father
That we do not think of You.

You were a loving husband
A pal, so good and true
A better husband never lived
Your equals are but few.

As I journey toward life’s sunset
Mourning him who went before
Faith assures me, I’ll be with him
When I reach the other shore.

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My heart

God Knows how much I miss him
My heart cannot tell what to say
God alone knows how I miss him
In a home that is lonesome today.

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Bond between us

A part of me he took with him
But his love he left me to keep
So we will never really be parted
The bond between us is too deep.

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Memories

Looking back with memories
Upon the path you trod
We bless the hours we had with you
And leave the rest with God.

Broken

Broken is the family circle
Our dear one has passed away
Passed from this earthly darkness
into a bright and perfect day
But we all must cease to languish
O’er the grave of him we love
Strive to be prepared to meet him
In the better world above

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Happy Family

From our happy home and circle
God has taken one we loved
She is borne from sin and sorrow
To a nobler rest above.
No one knows how much we miss her
None but aching hearts can tell
Lost on earth but found in Heaven
Jesus doeth all things well.

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Sister or Brother

There is a family who misses you
And finds time long since you went
We think of you daily and hourly
But try to be brave and content.
Tears that we shed are in silence
And we breath a sigh of regret
For you were ours and we remember
Though all the world forget.

You are not forgotten, sister
Nor ever will you be
As long as life and memory lasts
We will remember thee.

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Happy Home

From our happy home and circle
God has taken one we love
Borne away from sin and sorrow
To a better land above.

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Brother or Sister

His life earnest, his actions kind
A willing hand, and active mind
Anxious to please, loath to offend
A loving brother and faithful friend.

You still live on in the hearts and minds
Of the loving family you left behind.

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Bygone Days

We often think of bygone days
When we were all together
The family chain is broken now
But memories will live forever.
To us, she/he has not gone away
Nor has she/he travelled far
Just entered God’s eternal home
And left the gate ajar.

Angel Wings

Angel wings upon the clouds
Your body softly sleeps
Hush now little princess..
No more tears you have to weep.

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Please God

As angels
keep their watch up there
Please God, let him know
That I down here, do not forget
I loved him and miss him so.

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Flower

Another sweet flower has withered
A gem from the casket set free
A lamb in the fold of the Shepherd
Who said; “Let them come unto Me”

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Son or Daughter

Two little hands are resting
A little heart is still
A little son or daughter we loved is waiting
For us just over the hill.

Tear drops, slow and steady
The pain so real and true
God took another angel
And that angel dear, was You

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Angel Wings

Angel wings upon the clouds
Your body softly sleeps
Hush now little princess..
No more tears you have to weep.

Within our store of memories
you hold a place apart,
For no one else can ever
be more cherished in our hearts.

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Promise You

There’ll come a time we promise you
When you will hold our hands
Stroke our faces and kiss our lips
And then you’ll understand.

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Throne

Before the throne of God
Thousands of children stand
Children whose sins are all forgiven
In a holy and happy land.
Up there among the throng

Our little (name) stands
Waiting for us to join him/her
In that holy and happy land.

Sorrow

May you see God’s light on the path ahead when the road you walk is dark. May you always hear, even in your hour of sorrow, the gentle singing of the lark. When times are hard may hardness never turn your hardness to stone. May you always remember when the shadows fall – You do not walk alone.

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God

May the good earth be soft under you when you rest upon it and may it rest easy over you when at the last, you lay out under it, and may it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be out from under it quickly, and up, and off, and be on its way to God.

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Blessing of the Rain

May the blessing of the rain be on you – the soft sweet rain.
May it fall upon your spirit so that all the little flowers may spring up and shed their sweetness on the air.
May the blessings of the great rains be on you, may they beat upon your spirit and wash it fair and clean, and leave there many a shining pool where the blue of the Heaven shines, or sometimes a star or two.

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Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

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May God

May God Grant you always…
A Sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you,
And a sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.

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Happiness

May the good Saints protect you and bless you today,
And may troubles ignore you each step of the way.
May the brooks and trees and singing hills join in the chorus too,
And every gentle wind that blows, send happiness to you.

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Saint Patrick’s

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ within me, Christ below me,
Christ above me, Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,
Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my walking,
Christ in the heart of those who think of me,
Christ in the mouth of all who speak of me,
Christ in every eye that looks at me,
Christ in every ear that listens to me,
Salvation is of the Lord, Salvation is of the Christ,
May Your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.

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Remembering

At the rising of the sun and its going down, we remember you.
At the blowing of the wind and the chill of Winter, we remember you.
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of Spring, we remember you.
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of Summer, we remember you.
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of Autumn, we remember you.
At the beginning of the year and when it ends, we remember you.
As long as we live, You too will live; for you are now a part of us,
as we remember you, for now and forever, Amen.

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Single Line Irish Blessings

(1) May the light of Heaven shine on your grave.

(2) May the smile of God light you to Glory.

Guardian Angel

Guardian Angel from

Heaven so bright, Watching beside me to lead me aright,

Fold thy wings round me,

and guard me with love,

Softly sing songs to

me of heaven above.

Amen

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The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary

That never was it known that anyone who fled to Thy protection,

Implored Thy help or sought Thy intercession, was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence I fly unto Thee,

O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother;

To Thee do I come, before Thee I kneel sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions,

But in Thy clemency hear and answer me.

Amen.

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The Lord is my Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of

righteousness for His Name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

I will fear no evil for Thou art with me;

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me…

Surely goodness and mercy

Will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever

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Our Lady of Knock

I come to Thee, my Mother, to lay before Thy feet,

My fears, my hopes, my longings, my bitter hours and sweet.

O take them Mother Mary, and place them by God’s throne,

Your hands will give them value, they’re worthless on their own.

As I kneel before you, speak to your Son for me,

Though poor and small my offering, I know ’tis dear to thee.

For you your Son at Cana, changed water into wine,

The needs of bride and bridegroom, were small compared to mine.

And so, my Mother Mary, I lay before Thy feet,

My fears, my hopes, my longings, my bitter hours and sweat.

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Mother of Mercy

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,

Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry,

poor banished children of Eve, To thee do we send up our sighs,

Mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most

gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us.

And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary,

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Amen

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Eternal Rest

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine

upon her and may her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

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Come Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit, give light to my mind,

purify my heart, strengthen my will and guide my steps.

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Remember Me

All I ask is that you will remember me at Mass and Holy Communion.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

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Hail, Holy Queen

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,

our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope.

To Thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.

To Thee do we send up our sighs mourning

and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious Advocate,

Thine Eyes of Mercy toward us, and after this

our exile show us the Blessed Fruit of thy Womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Pray for us O Holy Mother of God

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Amen.

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Do not stand at my Grave and Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond’s glints on snow,

I am the sunlight on ripened grain

I am the gentle autumn’s rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there, I did not die.

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Padre Pio Prayer

O Jesus, full of grace and charity,

victim for sinners, so impelled by love

for us that you willed to die on the

cross, I humbly beseech you to glorify

in heaven and on earth the Servant of

God, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who

generously participated in Your

sufferings, who loved Thee so much

and laboured so faithfully for the

glory of Your heavenly Father and for

the good of souls. With confidence, I

beseech Thee to grant me, through his

intercession, the grace of … which I ardently desire.

Glory be to the Father… (Three times.)

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Prayer to St.Anthony

O gentle St. Anthony, by your holy and apostolic life, you led countless souls to the love of our Divine Lord.

I implore you, obtain for me and my loved ones His guidance, you who have the power to lead straying sheep back to the fold of Christ,

and to find articles that are lost. On earth your heart was filled with compassion for those in distress or sorrow. Please bring my request before the Child Jesus,

Who loved to rest in your arms, and I believe that you will help me to remain always close to our Divine Lord.

O miraculous Wonder Worker, in this hour of need obtain

what I ask of you.

Amen

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His Weary Hours and Days

His weary hours and days of pain,

His troubled nights are past.

In our hearts we know

He has found sweet rest at last.

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Our Father

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.

For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.

for ever and ever.

Amen