My father told me the proper message of condolence was that the deceased will receive "justice". It was not your place to judge another human but God's.

My grandmother stated that there were 3 types of Irishman. 1.Those that accepted the Church on blind faith and never bothered to question anything. 2. Those who despaired and blamed the 'fates' for their condition. 3.Those who sought the truth and question all dogma concerning the Church. She felt the true Irish Catholic was the one who sought the truth and could challenge the Church.