I want to share with you an article published recently in the National Catholic Reporter.  While some will not agree with the overtly religious tone of the piece or the author's conclusions, I thought it worth sharing.  The author speaks about the importance of ritual in dealing with the death of a loved one.  The article is a reflection on a particular funeral service the author attended for a friend and colleague.  While the article provides a uniquely Catholic perspective on death and dying, perhaps others can benefit from some of his insights.