Page 120 of A Most Beloved Sister
As the lesson concluded, the men were all bidden to rise and make their way outside. The sleet still pelted down, a dismal reflection of their somber mood. They reached the burial site, and as the coffin was closed and lowered into the ground, Dr. Fields once again sang.
“‘Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay.
“‘In the midst of life we are in death: of whom may we seek for succor, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased?
“‘Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.
“‘Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Savior, thou most worthy judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee.’”
Dr. Fields then nodded to the gravediggers, who began to shovel dirt into the hole. As the earth was cast upon the coffin, he said:
“‘Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our dear brother here departed, we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be like unto his glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.’”
Mr. Bennet gave a loud sniff, which was echoed by Bingley. Darcy placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
Dr. Fields gave them all a sympathetic look, then sang:
“‘I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me,
Write, From henceforth blessed
are the dead which die in the Lord:
even so saith the Spirit:
for they rest from their labors.’”
“Rest, dear Jane,” Bingley whispered. “Rest in peace.”
“‘Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us,” continued Dr. Fields, before he offered up a prayer. “Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.’”
“Amen.”
“Amen.”
“Amen.”
The response was murmured by each of the men in attendance. The prayer was continued.
“‘Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of them that depart hence in the Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity: We give thee hearty thanks, for that it hath pleased thee to deliver this our sister out of the miseries of this sinful world; beseeching thee, that it may please thee, of thy gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of thine elect, and to hasten thy kingdom; that we, with all those that are departed in the true faith of thy holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in thy eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.’”
Once again, the amen was echoed by each man. Darcy felt Bingley’s shoulders sag, and he whispered, “Hang in there. It’s almost finished.”
And so it was. Dr. Fields offered the last prayer on behalf of the congregation.
“‘O merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life; in whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth, and believeth in him, shall not die eternally; who also hath taught us, by his holy Apostle Saint Paul, not to be sorry, as men without hope, for them that sleep in him: We meekly beseech thee, O Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in him, as our hope is this our sister doth; and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in thy sight; and receive that blessing, which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from thebeginning of the world: Grant this, we beseech thee, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.’”
As the gentlemen replaced their hats on their heads, Dr. Fields uttered the final line of the service as a blessing upon all those who were present that day. “‘The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.’”
“Amen,” Darcy said fervently, and he was echoed by the rest of the men.
The majority of the mourners made their way towards their conveyances, but Bingley and Mr. Bennet remained staring down at the grave being filled, with Darcy, Hurst, and Mr. Phillips at their sides. Dr. Fields walked over towards them and, with compassion, said, “This is the most difficult part, I think. It’s as though if you don’t leave, she’s not really gone.”
“Exactly,” Bingley whispered, and Mr. Bennet nodded.
“But that’s just a lie,” Dr. Fields said. “There is no comfort to be found here. The longer you remain, the harder it will be to leave. It makes it worse, not better. As the angel said to the apostles and to Mary, He is not here. Jane isn’t here. She is with God. And as He is everywhere, so is she. She is with you wherever you go.”
Darcy’s heart clenched; he wished his father could have better understood these concepts. Perhaps then he wouldn’t have succumbed to the paralyzing fear of losing his wife. He remembered the hours his father spent at Anne Darcy’s grave, refusing to accept that she was gone, and how Pemberley had suffered for it.
