and hallowed by our love.
Within this little space has the far world been housed.
Eternity has been its guest.
Holy rituals have there been kept in celebration of the goodness of days.
To keep this last high feast in praise of life, we are come.
Here at the moment of its going, the light of its mystery falls upon us.
All human experience stands out with poignant clearness.
We know ourselves to be part of a great miracle.
Somehow this bit of dust was awakened to incomparable beauty.
Some power filled it, stirred it into tenderness and love, lifted life to levels of good.
Now we give it to Thy great care, and a soul unto Thee.
Holy rituals have there been kept in celebration of the goodness of days.
To keep this last high feast in praise of life, we are come.
Here at the moment of its going, the light of its mystery falls upon us.
All human experience stands out with poignant clearness.
We know ourselves to be part of a great miracle.
Somehow this bit of dust was awakened to incomparable beauty.
Some power filled it, stirred it into tenderness and love, lifted life to levels of good.
Now we give it to Thy great care, and a soul unto Thee.
This is a lovely prayer. Do you happen to know its source? Your post identifies it as the Closing Prayer read at a memorial service in 2000. It so happens that this Closing Prayer was read at the memorial service for my mother, Elizabeth Frothingham Moore, in Marlboro, Vermont in August of 2000. Is it possible that this is the memorial service you are referring to, and that you were also there? Thank you. Ted Moore elfinwood2@gmail.com.
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