-
April 15, 2019By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press
Pope Francis sent his condolences, and clergy, religious and laity lauded Bishop Rueger on the occasion of his death.
As Bishop Rueger's casket was carried to the hearse after the funeral Mass Saturday at St. Paul Cathedral, priests of the diocese, gathered outside, broke into applause. Msgr. F. Stephen Pedone this week called that a touching moment and said it was an old Irish tradition.
The leader they were honoring, who grew up in the Worcester Diocese and served here as a priest and bishop, was also lauded by the presence of the more than 300 people at his funeral, including the numerous priests, several bishops, and family members, deacons, seminarians, religious and laity.
Pope Francis sent his condolences and blessing in a message to Bishop McManus.
The Holy Father was saddened to learn of Bishop Rueger's death, "and he offers heartfelt condolences to you and to the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese," said the message from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State. "To all present at the Mass of Christian Burial and who mourn Bishop Rueger's passing, Pope Francis cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and consolation in the Lord Jesus."
The pope's message expressed gratitude for Bishop Rueger's years of service and commended his soul to God. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, forwarded the message, adding his own condolences and prayers.
At the funeral, Bishop McManus mentioned some groups represented, including the Guild of Our Lady of Providence, Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulcher and of Malta, Knights of Columbus, and students from Catholic schools.
After the funeral, about 40 people went to St. John Cemetery in Lancaster
for the Rite of Committal, where they concluded with a “Hail Mary” at the request of Bishop Rueger’s friend Father Dennis J. O’Brien. He spoke of the late bishop’s devotion to the Blessed Mother, especially in his last days: “He was crying out often Mary’s name.”
Father O’Brien had led the brief graveside service with Msgr. F. Stephen Pedone, another long-time friend of the bishop’s.
Preaching at the funeral Mass, Bishop McManus
said that when a brother in the faith dies, Catholics are to perform three spiritual acts: Praying for him, reaffirming their faith in Jesus’ Resurrection and comforting one another with the assurances of faith.
Bishop McManus spoke of how those gathered were there to pray for Bishop Rueger’s eternal salvation, to hope with faith that he is now embraced by Christ, who he “loved so deeply and so well.”
Noting that the funeral’s first reading, from Micah 6:6-8, admonished people to do right, love goodness and walk humbly with God, Bishop McManus said, “Bishop Rueger was a man of profound humility. He never wanted to be … the center of attention.”
Like Mother Teresa, he understood he was to pointing others to Jesus, away from himself. Bishop Rueger was a friend of Jesus and wanted others to fall in love with Jesus too, he said, and perhaps that’s why he addressed people: “Hi Pal.”
Speaking of Bishop Rueger’s priestly ordination, Bishop McManus said, “He accepted the divine invitation and never once looked back.”
He told about visiting Bishop Rueger the Sunday before he died. Bishop Rueger’s eyes were closed, but he opened them, blessed himself and raised his hand when Bishop McManus said, “George, I’m going to give you my blessing.”
“Bishop Rueger was a priest to his last breath,” Bishop McManus said.
He applied to Bishop Rueger words from a Scripture passage read at the funeral: “I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:1-8)
He noted that the day after Bishop Rueger’s funeral the Church would begin Holy Week, a time of focusing on Jesus, who conquered sin and death for us. Then comes Easter, when angels informed Jesus’ friends that he had been raised. Bishop McManus told the congregation they would leave with the hope that Bishop’s Rueger’s body too will be raised from death and pass to resurrected life.
He recounted the story of St. Jean Vianney telling the boy who showed him the way to new assignment in Ars: “I will show you the way to heaven.”
“Dear Bishop Rueger, we thank you for showing us the way to heaven by your exemplary ministry as a priest and bishop here in the diocese of Worcester and beyond,” Bishop McManus said.
He expressed hope that when Bishop Rueger’s eyes closed in death, he opened them on the other side to see Jesus and heard, “Well done, my good and faithful friend; enter into now into the joy of your Master.”
(Photos by Tanya Connor and Rob Carlin)
