Upon his death, I joined Sr. John Mary, SV and a couple of the Sisters of Life at his bedside to pray and sing the Office of the Dead from the Liturgy of the Hours. Thousands of times, Fr. Richard would have repeated Simeon the Prophet\u2019s words to God on the completion of his mission, \u201cLord now you let your servant go in peace\u2026your word has been fulfilled.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fr. Richard\u2019s last published words read: \u201cThe entirety of our prayer is \u2018Your will be done\u2019\u2014not as a note of resignation but of desire beyond expression. To that end, I commend myself to your intercession, and that of all the saints and angels who accompany us each step through time toward home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fr. Richard, we have interceded for you, and continue to do so, but now it is we who ask you to intercede for us at the throne of glory. As you knew so well, the darkness of our time and culture\u2014and even the darkness that has crept into our own Church\u2014is great. But we believe with you that the Light has entered the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. We proclaim with you the power and authority of Christ in all times and places, and in all circumstances. We ask your assistance, Fr. Richard, to persevere in trials, to carry the cross, and to witness joyfully to the power of the Resurrection, so that we may preach with our lives, teach as you taught, and imitate your example of giving glory to God by throwing your life away for Jesus Christ and joining that high adventure of living life on high in Christ. Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, thank you, we love you, pray for us.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe entirety of our prayer is \u2018Your will be done\u2019\u2014not as a note of resignation but of desire beyond expression….\u201d https:\/\/t.co\/ZpOJXIwlFK<\/a><\/p>\n — Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) May 10, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n