O God, this hour revives in us memories of loved ones
who are here no more.
What happiness we shared when they walked among us!
What joy, when, loving and loved,
we lived our lives together!
Their memory is a blessing forever.
Time may have passed,
yet we feel near to them.
Our hearts yearn for them.
Though the bitter grief has softened,
a duller pain abides,
for the place where once they stood is empty now.
The links of life are broken,
but the links of love and longing cannot break.
Their souls are bound up with ours forever.
O Lord, we thank You
for allowing us to have these very special people in our lives.
We have been truly blessed by their presence,
their words and actions, and their love.
We grieve not for them, but for ourselves, as we truly miss them.
We shared so much,
and yet we feel our times together were fleeting.
Help us, O God,
to realize that the distance between us now
is not so great and that one day,
we will be reunited with them in paradise.
Together, we will glorify You,
Almighty Father, Your only Son, Jesus Christ,
and Your Holy Spirit for all eternity.
Amen.