Memorial Service for Francis Hope

Today we had a little memorial service before Mass, just our family and Father. He graciously offered to do this for us, in honor of the life of our miscarried child last month. We officially decided on the name Francis Hope.

Maia read this beautiful poem:

The Tiny Rosebud God Picked to Bloom in Heaven

By Helen Steiner Rice

The Master Gardener from heaven above

Planted a seed in the garden of love,

And from it there grew a rosebud small

That never had time to open at all.

For God in his perfect and all-wise way

Chose this rose for His heavenly bouquet,

And great was the joy of this tiny rose

To be the one our Father chose

To leave earth’s garden

For one on high where roses bloom always

And never die.

So, while we can’t see our precious rose bloom,

We know the great Gardener from the upper room

Is watching and tending this wee rose with care,

Tenderly touching each petal so fair.

So think of our darling with the angels above,

Secure and contented and surrounded by love,

And remember God blessed and enriched our lives, too

For in dying our darling brought heaven closer to you.

I recently found this wonderful quote from St. Bernard of Clairvaux (Doctor of the Church):

"Baptism for this child was only delayed by time. Your faith suffices.
The waters of your womb — were they not the waters of life for this child?
Look at your tears. Are they not like the waters of baptism?
Do not fear this. God’s ability to love is greater than our fears.
Surrender everything to God.”

And some Scripture I found that were comforting and reassuring...

~“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”    ~Romans 8:28

~“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths.” ~Prov 3:5-6

~“We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”   ~Psalm 33:20-22

Lord willing, we look forward to meeting you someday on the other side of Heaven, 

our little Francis Hope. Pray for us in the meantime!!