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Cardinal's lying in state at St. Michael's Cathedral

Cardinal's lying in state at St. Michael's Cathedral
Bishop Vincent Nguyen said goodbye to the man who ordained him a priest in 1998 as visitation with Cardinanl Aloysius Ambrozic began in St. Michael's Cathedral.
Michael Swan
Michael Swan

August 30, 2011

TORONTO - They sang "Christ is the World's Light" as they wheeled Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic's coffin down the centre aisle of St. Michael's Cathedral at 1:30 Tuesday afternoon to begin two days of vigil and visitation.

The cardinal's simple casket, adorned only with a crucifix, was greeted at the cathedral doors by St. Michael's Cathedral rector Fr. Michael Busch, who sprinkled it with holy water — a reminder of our common baptism.

The ceremony began with more than 200 already in the cathedral awaiting the cardinal's last entry into his Church. As the ceremony progressed they kept coming. By the time the congregation was singing Salve Regina the cathedral was more than half full.

Family, friends, trusted advisors and priests were among the first to file by the casket and offer a prayer for their old ally.

A book of condolences was at the ready near the entrance of the church. Cardinal Ambrozic was the ninth archbishop of the archdiocese of Toronto.

Mourners pay respects to the ninth archbishop of the archdiocese of Toronto.