Friends, relatives make their final farewells to the cardinal, who passed away Aug. 20

Detroit – Holy water, a white cloth and the Easter candle.

These three items, explained Archbishop Leonard P. Blair in his homily at the Aug. 26 funeral liturgy for Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka, were symbols of a “momentous event” that occurred in the cardinal’s life in 1927.

"They are the symbols of his baptism,” said Archbishop Blair to the people filling the pews of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit to pay their final respects to the cardinal.

"The holy water, with which his body has been sprinkled; the white funeral cloth that covers his casket, reminiscent of his baptismal gown; an Easter candle, that recalls Christ dying and rising,” said the archbishop, explaining that these reminders symbolize the cardinal’s death and resurrection with Christ.

View a photo gallery from the funeral Mass

Archbishop Blair, who had served for three years as Cardinal Szoka’s priest-secretary during the cardinal’s time in Rome, said the cardinal once told him that the name of Cardinal Szoka had become known for his many administrative endeavors.

But what the cardinal really wished to be known for “was the renewal and strengthening of our faith as it is taught, believed and lived,” said Archbishop Blair.

And despite trials and crosses throughout life, “he was always a man of deep faith,” said the archbishop.

The funeral Mass was presided over by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, and concelebrated by roughly 100 priests, including more than two dozen bishops and cardinals.

The faithful attending included cousins, friends, neighbors and co-workers of Cardinal Szoka throughout his life. Sitting near the front of the church with his closest relatives were Sr. Mary Hiacenta, CSSF, and Sr. Mary Damiana, CSSF; two Felician religious sisters who cared for the cardinal in the remaining years of his life.

The apostolic pro-nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, was also present at the funeral liturgy, and read a special message of condolence sent by Pope Francis to the people of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Archbishop Vigneron, speaking after the letter was read, explained that the message “reminds us of our communion with the Church and all the saints.”

“Today God has brought us here so that in this most blessed sacrament of Christ’s Passover, we can for a final time offer the Holy Eucharist, the Passover mystery, in (Cardinal Szoka’s) physical presence,” he said.

The Archdiocesan Chorus of Detroit led the faithful in song throughout the liturgy, singing songs in both English and Polish, honoring Cardinal Szoka’s Polish heritage.

The traditional Polish hymn “Serdeczna Matko” (Stainless the Maiden) was sung after the distribution of Holy Communion; made more significant by the fact that Aug. 26 was also the feast day of Our Lady of Czestochowa, to whom the cardinal had great devotion.

Cardinal Adam J. Maida, who succeeded Cardinal Szoka as archbishop of Detroit in 1990, incensed the casket one last time.

Following the liturgy, the cardinal’s casket was taken to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, where he was laid to rest among other deceased bishops of Detroit.

Cardinal Szoka had died on Aug. 20, 2014, at the age of 86, at Providence Park Hospital in Novi. He had served as archbishop of Detroit from 1981 to 1990, when he went to oversee the government of the Vatican City State. He is survived by his sister Irene Szoka and a number of cousins.

Condolences may be sent to Msgr. Todd Lajiness at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, 2701 Chicago Boulevard, Detroit, MI, 48206.