CHICAGO - Cardinal Joseph Bernardin was laid to rest Wednesday after a ceremony that reflected his life: at once dignified and informal, traditional and modern, solemn and lighthearted.
Nine cardinals and more than 150 bishops joined the Bernardin family, clergy from other faiths, and a government delegation headed by Vice President Al Gore. In the center of Holy Name Cathedral sat the late cardinal's friends and lay church workers, with hundreds of priests lining either side.
The 2ï-hour Mass of Christian Burial was composed of elaborate rituals, whose roots lie in the early centuries of the Catholic church, such as Latin hymns and the burning of incense. But the service was also punctuated by modern touches, symbols of his vision for the church: prayers in Tagalog, Polish and Spanish, female pallbearers and people of all races.
And despite the presence of so many church leaders - including the papal representative sent from Rome - the rousing homily was delivered by the cardinal's longtime executive assistant, Monsignor Kenneth Velo, at the request of the cardinal.
Ever the planner, Cardinal Bernardin wrote out many instructions for his funeral long before his death last Thursday.
''Perhaps you are wondering who I am,'' Monsignor Velo said to the crowd.
''Let me introduce myself in the way that Mrs. Bernardin, the cardinal's 92-year-old mother, knows me. I am Father Velo, the regular driver."
Monsignor Velo provided much of the levity in the afternoon service. He told mourners how his boss would usually fall asleep in their drives around the archdiocese, awaking only when Monsignor Velo alerted him.
''I would say, 'Cardinal, we're here, we've arrived.' The comb would come out of the pocket and the event, the ceremony, whatever would begin, but not before he would say to me, 'Our objective is to get out of here as quickly as possible.'"
Monsignor Velo also recalled how, throughout his life, Cardinal Bernardin strove to embody his favorite prayer, written by St. Francis of Assisi. The first line is, ''Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace."
''He was a pastor of priests and people,'' the monsignor said, recalling the cardinal's years in Cincinnati. ''It was during those years he strengthened his spiritual life with the Lord Jesus. People of Cincinnati, didn't he teach us? Didn't he show us the way?"
The crowd of about 1,300 included Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Auxiliary Bishop Carl Moeddel and Covington Bishop Robert Muench as well as Cincinnatians Giuseppi ''Peppe'' Ramundo and Milly Brichto.
''Cardinal Bernardin was many things to people, but he was a teacher. He taught the lessons of life,'' Monsignor Velo said. ''In this darkened cathedral and darkened archdiocese, he brought life and light that continues this day."
As light streamed through the stained-glass windows, the pageantry began with a procession of priests in white robes. Then came members of the Knights of Columbus, religious leaders in velvet robes and yarmulkes, and finally the bishops and cardinals.
The church leaders walked past the coffin, covered in a white shroud, and past an empty chair with a scarlet cardinal's hat on it. Two choirs, an organ and a flute provided the music, a mix of Latin chants, Spanish hymns and modern arrangements.
For Archbishop Pilarczyk and the other bishops, Wednesday's service was a chance to celebrate the life of a colleague and friend.
''We've lost a good friend. We've lost a significant churchman in the Catholic church,'' said the archbishop. ''And yet, here is somebody who taught us all a lot, and for that we are grateful."
Many of the readings and prayers reflected joy at the prospect of death, since Christians believe the deceased goes on to eternal life in heaven.
But Chicago Bishop Raymond Goedert revealed the mix of earthly sadness and faithful joy as he broke down during a final prayer for the cardinal.
''In a few minutes, our shepherd will be moving down the aisle of his cathedral for the last time,'' Bishop Goedert said. ''The knowledge that he rests in the arms of the Lord makes it a little easier for us to say, 'Goodbye, Joseph. God be with you. We love you very much and we will miss you dearly.'''
As the coffin was carried to a waiting hearse, the priests in white streamed up to the front, forming a ring around the cathedral as they sang, ''Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
About a half hour later, a motorcade headed down North Michigan Avenue, past construction workers and shoppers lining the sidewalk.
The procession drove for more than an hour, past Catholic schools and convents before arriving at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside. The journey was in stark contrast to that of the cardinal's predecessor, Cardinal John Cody, whose motorcade closed down an expressway and remained far from people.
For Milly Brichto, who had known the cardinal for at least 15 years, the afternoon captured the spirit of her late friend. She stepped out of the cathedral and into a bitter November afternoon with a smile on her face.
''His presence is so pervasive, and there are so many people here and everyone who walks out of here takes some of him with them,'' she said.
''You can't buy it. You can't manufacture it. It's just remarkable."
Published Nov. 21, 1996.
