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Short Stories (Stories for the Youth), book by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

433- A Royal Funeral

 

St-Takla.org Image: White Silk, fabric, texture صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: حرير أبيض، قماش

In December 1962, the BBC radio station was broadcasting the funeral of former queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. The announcer called it the white funeral for, all the members of the royal family wore white. Even the horse, pulling the carriage that had the queen’s hearth, had white flags on it. That was the queen’s request. The announcer was also astonished at the hymn that was played at the funeral:

“Today, the sun is shining in my soul.

 More glorious and more brilliant than any earthly sky for, Jesus is the Light.

Radiance is truly realized, the blessed radiance.

 For the moments full of peace and happiness are here.

Jesus shines on my soul with His joyous face.”

The queen heard that hymn a long time ago and was moved by it. She requested that it would be sung at her funeral.

That is how we await the time of our departure from this world as a holy gift. On that day we shall meet Jesus, who lit our way as we lived all the days of our life with him, face to face. His amazing Holy Light will shine on us.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: جنازة ملوكية.

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