Play recording: Blessed is the Corpse
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- Teideal (Title): Blessed is the Corpse.
- Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 841401.
- Uimhir Chnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann (National Folklore of Ireland Number): none.
- Uimhir Roud (Roud Number): none.
- Uimhir Laws (Laws Number): none.
- Uimhir Child (Child Number): none.
- Cnuasach (Collection): Joe Heaney Collection, University of Washington, Seattle.
- Teanga na Croímhíre (Core-Item Language): English.
- Catagóir (Category): story.
- Ainm an té a thug (Name of Informant): Joe Heaney.
- Ainm an té a thóg (Name of Collector): Joan Rabinowitz.
- Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): 07/04/1982.
- Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): University of Washington’s Music Cultures, Washington, United States of America.
- Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): class.
- Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): unavailable.
- Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): unavailable.
Blessed is the corpse that the rain falls on
A couple has one son. The mother is thoroughly evil-tempered, while the father is good and kind. The mother dies six months before the father, and the day she’s buried is a beautiful, sunny day; but when the father dies, his funeral takes place in pouring rain and lashing wind. This seems unfair to the son, who sets out to find an explanation. His travels eventually reveal not only why it’s better to have a rainy funeral than a sunny one, but also why a blacksmith’s forge is never open after sunset on a Saturday, and answers to a lot of other questions besides. The story reflects Christian teaching and salvation.
When asked which was his favourite story, this is the story that Joe named.
Another story of a similar moral character is The Farmer, the Teacher and the Priest.