Prayers
For Bernard's funeral – Universal prayer
Composed by France
At the end of each prayer, the congregation responds
"Remember, O Lord, your love"
Let us pray for Bernard who has left this earthly life in serenity after months of suffering.
May God welcome him into paradise for life eternal.
Let us pray for all those departed from our families, and in particular for his grandfather Rodolphe Deschênes, medical officer in whose path Bernard followed, and for his mother and father-in-law who had so much esteem for their son-in-law and whom they described as a holy man.
May they partake of the celestial banquet in Bernard's company.
Let us pray for those who accompany the ill and dying, and especially for Drs Mélanie Saint Pierre and Pauline Lavoie who were like angels during his last days.
May their comforting presence lighten the load of those who suffer.
Let us pray for all those who have benefited from Bernard’s work: African villagers, the Inuit population of Québec, the children and adults who have benefited from the vaccination programs that he helped set up.
May his colleagues and friends keep alive the flame and the ideals of public health and prevention.
Let us pray for the celebrant, the priests and the musicians who are helping us in our prayers during this ceremony.
May their prayers and musical offerings express the wonders and love of our Lord.
Let us pray for all family members and friends who share our loss this morning, and for those who could not be here but who are thinking of him at this time
May they keep the memory of Bernard as one fulfilled and who understood so well how to make others happy.
Prayer for Bernard
Composed by Isabelle
Dear Lord,
You are with us now today
You are with us each day
You accompany us, Lord, you walk with us
We give thanks for your presence in our joys and our suffering
We pray to you for Bernard
Bless him, O Lord... Grant him your peace
Look upon all the good he has done throughout his life
Bless him, O Lord... Grant him your peace
Look upon all the people he loved, all the people he helped
He made so many people happy...
His friends, all around the world,
His colleagues in Québec and all over the world
All his family members, and especially his parents, his sister, his brother
His dear children: Isabelle, François and Mireille
And France, the great love of his life
We give you thanks, O Lord
We wish to render thanks to you, O Lord, for Bernard’s presence in our life...
We give thanks for his smile his delicacy his work his warmth
We give thanks for his openness his desire to make others happy
We give thanks for his goodness his patience his fine bass voice
We give thanks for his sensitivity his devotion his father's heart...
Look, O Lord, upon all of Bernard’s efforts to make the world a better place
Bless him, O Lord... Grant him your peace
We are with him with all our hearts and we know that you are with him, O Lord, and that you will accompany him on each moment of his journey
Keep him in your love
Keep us all together in your father's heart
O Lord, you are with us and will remain with us
We give thanks for your presence, now and for ages to come.
Amen.
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