Christmas Mass

Cynthia woke on up Christmas morning with a premonition something was going to happen. Pushing aside her unfounded fears, she got ready to attend the morning mass at the St. Nicolas Roman Catholic Church in Kyiv. Pushing eighty, she had never missed a single Sunday mass, participating in the choir as well.

"Grandma...you don't look well. Maybe you should stay home and follow the mass over TV. Kneeling will be hard on your knees," Rubina said concerned since Cynthia had recently gone through knee replacement surgery.

"No sweet pea. I'm not going to miss the biggest mass of the year. More so as Father Sebastian will be giving the sermon. He is as old as I am. That gives me the courage to sit through the entire proceedings."

No one could argue with Cynthia once her mind was made up. Bundled in swollen she took her walking sticks and walked the short distance to the beautiful Church, the second oldest Catholic Church in Kyiv.

Most of the parishioners were seated by the time Cynthia arrived with Rubina. The altar was decorated as befitting the special occasion. Cynthia placed a cushion and knelt as the sermon started. The sound of warplanes flying overhead disturbed the solemnity of the sermon. Father Sebastian's voice sounded feeble.  

In everyone's mind ran one thought. Please God put an end to this war and an end to the miseries of our citizens, and soldiers missing family time during this festive season. Heads bowed the parishioners prayed in earnest.  

Their reverie was broken by the loud noise of glass shattering. The beautiful stained windows of the Church had fallen with the impact of the bombing by enemy planes.  

No one attempted to leave. They were prepared for the worst and if God so willed, they would be buried under the rubble of the holiest place.  

Rubina held onto Grandma and experienced strange feelings. As though she was praying for release from the world where fairness did not exist. Suddenly, Rubina saw Grandma collapsing. Raising an alarm, had the parish priest run to her assistance. A doctor was summoned. Cynthia had passed in Church with a Christmas hymn on her lips.

The service got suspended and the congregation sent up prayers for her soul to rest in peace.

What a beautiful death, they all commented. The Lord has lifted her and taken her to a better place where she would be at peace.