When a loved one dies, those left behind are filled with the conflicting emotions of intense sorrow and grief, coupled with Christian joy and thankfulness that the suffering is over and everlasting life in heaven is beginning. The Roman Catholic funeral rites offer a beautiful, profound journey through grief and loss to the joy of anticipation of the resurrection of the dead.

The Catholic funeral rites consist of three components:

The Vigil for the Deceased

Usually the evening before the burial

Usually at the funeral home, but can be done in the narthex of church if the church is available

The normative format is the readings and prayers that make up the official Vigil for the Deceased, but other options are possible:

Liturgy of the Word

Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours (Office of the Dead)

Rosary

This is the best time for a eulogy or shared remembrances

The Mass of Christian Burial

Celebrated at the parish church, unless special permission is granted by the priest to hold it at a funeral chapel

This is the central celebration of the Christian funeral

Due to the nature of the liturgy, eulogies are discouraged at the Mass itself. They are much better done at the Vigil for the Deceased the evening before or at the funeral luncheon. In some circumstances a eulogy at the funeral Mass may be permitted, but there must be only one, and it must be less than 5 minutes. See more detailed guidelines below.

 

 

 

The Rite of Committal

These final prayers before burial are normally prayed at the graveside, as we commit our loved one to the hands of God.

 

The first thing the priest or deacon will need to know is whether the body will be present or if there are cremated remains. It is preferred that the body be present for the funeral Mass and if cremation is to take place that it be done following the Mass.

Here are some of the choices you’ll need to communicate to the parish:

Scripture readings (more information below)

Music choices (more information below)

Is there a visiting priest?

Will anyone be eulogizing following communion?

Do you want a funeral luncheon? How many will be coming?

Routinely provided by a group of parish volunteers (donation)

Usually held in the School Gym or Squire Hall immediately following the burial at the cemetery.

If you are having someone prepare a printed program for the Mass you we’ll need the following information.

Exact dates of birth and death

If you wish, a favorite photo to be used on the front cover of the program

The names of the following:

Readers of first and second reading

Readers of General Intercessions (Prayers of the Faithful) (if desired, the priest or cantor can read these)

Pall bearers

Gift bearers (to present the bread and wine at offertory)

Alter servers (if applicable; normally these are provided by the parish)

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC),

if communion under both species is desired. These must be officially –commissioned EMHCs and at least one must be a member of the parish. Upon request, the parish will recruit EMHCs for you.

 

The Catholic Church offers a wide selection of Scripture readings for the funeral rites. You will likely find excellent readings from among this list, but you may choose another Scripture reading if another passage is particularly appropriate for you or your loved one.

First Reading from the Old Testament (or from Acts or Revelation in Easter Season

Responsorial Psalm from the Book of Psalms

Second Reading from the New Testament Epistles

Gospel Reading

The first and second reading may be proclaimed by a family member or friend, or you may ask a parish lector to read them. The readers should have a good grasp of the principles of proclaiming the Word of God in public. Be sure to give them a copy of the reading in advance, and encourage them to practice the reading at the ambo (lectern) in church to get the feel of the acoustics and microphone.

The responsorial psalm should preferably be sung by the cantor, but it can be recited if necessary.

All the passages listed below may be found in the New American Bible which is used in our liturgies.

2 Maccabees 12:43-46

Job 19:1, 23-27a

*Wisdoms 4:7-15

*Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9

*Lamentations 3:17-26

Daniel 12:1-3

During the Easter Season (Easter to Pentecost) one of the following is used instead of a passage from the Old Testament

Acts 10:34-43 (or shorter version Acts 10:34-36,42-43)

*Revelation 14:13

Revelation 20:11-21:1

*Revelation 21:1-5a, 6b-7

 

*Denotes most often used readings.)

*Psalm 23:1-3, 4,5,6

*Psalm 25:6 and 7b, 17-18, 20-21

*Psalm 27:1,4,7, and 8b and 9a, 13-14

Psalm 42:2,3,5cdef; 43:3,4,5

*Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

*Psalm 103:8 and 10, 13-14,15-16, 17-18

*Psalm 116:5, 6,10-11,15-16ac

Psalm 122:1-2, 4-05, 6-7, 8-9

*Psalm 130: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6ab, 6c-7, 8

Psalm 143: 1-2, 5-6, 7ab and 8ab, 10

 

Romans 5:5-11

Romans 5:17-21

Romans 6:3-9 (or shorter version Rom 6:3-4,8-9)

Romans 8:14-23

*Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39

Romans 14:7-9, 10c-12

*1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (or shorter version 1 Cor 15:20-23)

1 Corinthians 15:51-57

*2 Corinthians 4:14 – 5:1

2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10

Philippians 3:20-21

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

2 Timothy 2:8-13

*1 John 3:1-2

1 John 3:14-16

The music for the funeral liturgy, as the music at all Catholic liturgy, should encourage the participation of all those present in sung prayer. Our Pastoral Associate for music can help you with this.

Remuneration for the musicians’ time and expertise is expected. This needs to be arranged with musician(s) prior to the funeral.

A eulogy, or tribute to the deceased, has in the past often been inserted into the funeral Mass, but current liturgical guidelines strongly discourage this practice.

The Order of Christian Funerals (the Catholic Church document governing Catholic funerals) is quite clear that a brief homily should be given at the funeral liturgy, but never is any kind of eulogy to replace the homily (OCF #141). This does not mean that the deceased cannot be spoken about in the homily, but that the Word of God must be primary. The homilist (priest or deacon) speaks the scriptural word that helps the assembly understand that the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus is operative in the life and death of the deceased.

In certain cases, a remembrance by a family member or friend during the funeral Mass may be allowed, either at the beginning of Mass or after communion. This must be arranged with the priest a day or two ahead of time, not minutes before Mass.

If permission is granted for a remembrance or eulogy to be given a Mass, the following guidelines MUST be observed:

Only one person may speak (unless translation to another language is needed for the benefit of the assembly)

The remembrance must be brief: no more than 5 minutes

The remembrance should be well prepared in advance so that it is focused and stays within the 5-minute time limit. If possible, a copy should be given to the priest in time to review it before the liturgy.

These guidelines are not meant to squelch remembrance or tribute, but past experience had taught that eulogies are the "wild card" most prone to disaster, with some rambling on for 45 minutes or more, some nearly unintelligible through tears or mumbling, and others used more as a soap box for cult theology than a remembrance of the dead. (All of these cases have indeed happened in the past, and nobody wants them to happen to you!)

A eulogy or eulogies are much more appropriate and successful when presented at the prayer vigil the evening before the funeral, not at the Mass itself. Families are strongly encouraged to utilize this option.

Use "Vigil Service," rather than "Rosary" or "Christian Wake," etc.

Use "Funeral Mass," rather than "Mass of Christian Burial", "Mass of the Resurrection", "Requiem Mass", "Mass of the Angels."

Use "Funeral Liturgy" when the main service in the church is not a Mass.

Use "Memorial Mass" if the body or cremated remains is not present.

Use "Committal Service" or "Committal Service at the Graveside," rather than "Graveside Service."

The Catholic Church has two thousand years’ experience escorting the deceased into the Kingdom of Heaven, and just as much experience consoling those who remain behind. Holy Mother Church’s funeral rites offer an unparalleled avenue for remembrance and worship through the throes of grief into the comfort and joy of the resurrection. Prayerful preparations and planning of the funeral liturgy will help you and you loved ones deal successfully and gracefully with the ultimate rite of passage through death to life.

It is customary that an offering be given to the Parish or priest/deacon, the usual amount when arranged though the funeral home is $250.00. This is a suggestion only and is not mandatory.