Expensive to die; worship fervour eclipses piety

Death and dying were in the forefront this last week because of Pope Francis' end to life.

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Even while dying he seemed to think of others and with compassion be considerate. He knew of the masses that would gather at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City with concern for him. He was surely weak and ill but wanted to be wheel chaired to the balcony to be seen by those gathered below on East Sunday. He lived through the Easter days and then died on Monday, having left details of how his funeral should be conducted: simple to the utmost. The most obvious of austerity and elimination of ostentation was the coffin the Pope desired he be buried in - a simple stark rectangular wooden box. Usually a pope is buried with personal items and documents in a three nested coffin of cypress, lead and oak. Cypress symbolises humility; the middle coffin of lead preserves the body and secures documents; and elm or oak of the outermost coffin ensures durability and symbolises humility. Pope Francis wanted none of this.

Funeral; expenses locally

This stark simplicity and great wisdom of choice posed itself against how burials and cremations are conducted in this land of ours. They are often lavish displays, with food and drink flowing and people gathering as if it were a merry social gathering. Coffins are ornate and of course costly. They are satin lined and frilled, with tassels galore and shiny metal handles. People get into debt to make a show of a funeral. Mercifully, to stall such and also help in a need, village and town folk set up funeral committees. Annual contributions with membership, guarantees that the payee or his close relatives receive a decent funeral, the committee meeting expenses.