A priest has said he is fed up with mourners bringing packets of cigarettes and cans of beer to the altar at funerals.
Fr Tomas Walsh, of Gurranabraher parish on the northside of Cork, has written in the weekly parish newsletter about what he views as unsuitable items being brought as offertory gifts.
He said: “Bringing things such as beer, cigarettes, a remote control, a mobile phone, or a football jersey does not tell us anything uplifting about the person who has died.
“Surely items such as a flower, a family photo, a prayer-book or rosary reveals far more about the person who has died — and the loss he/she is to the family.”
Fr Walsh also expressed frustration with eulogies that go on “for as long as the Mass itself, (and sometimes longer).”
The cleric wrote: “A Requiem Mass is essentially the coming- together of the family along with the believing community to pray for the person who has died.
“At the hour of death — as we begin the journey home to God and to judgment – we desperately need God’s mercy and forgiveness, no matter how edifying the life of the person may seem.
“In the final hours of Pope John Paul II’s life in 2005, he was told of the immense multitude outside in St Peter’s Square.
“He begged the throngs of people would pray for him. That is the greatest gift we can give our dead – prayer.” Earlier this year, in an interview with The Echo newspaper, Fr Walsh criticised parents who ask non-believers to be their kids’ godparent.
He said: “Even more outrageous is the presence of godparents who believe nothing themselves and are permitted to make promises to God that they will oversee the faith formation of the godchild.
“It is becoming increasingly impossible to conduct Baptisms with children running wildly around the church - and adults, obviously only present for the celebrations afterwards, not caring about the disturbance.
