Funeral Guides

CELEBRATING

Christian Funerals: "In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity. Christians celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life which has now been returned to God, the author of life and the hope of the just."

PRAYING

The Church through its funeral rites commends the dead to God's merciful love and pleads for the forgiveness of their sins. At the funeral rites, especially at the celebration of the eucharistic sacrifice, the Christian community affirms and expresses the union of the Church on earth with the Church in heaven in the one communion of saints. Though separated from the living, the dead are still one with community of believers on earth and benefit from their prayers and intercession. At the rite of final commendation and farewell, the community acknowledges the reality of separation and commends the deceased to God. In this way it recognizes the spiritual bond that still exists between the living and the dead and proclaims its belief that all the faithful will be raised up and reunited in the new heavens and a new earth, where death will be no more."

COMFORTING

The celebration of the Christian funeral brings hope and consolation to the living. While proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and witnessing to Christian hope in the resurrection, the funeral rites also recall to all who take part in them God's mercy and judgment and meet the human need to turn always to God in times of crisis... 'If one member suffers in the body of Christ which is the Church, all the members suffer with that member' (I Corinthians 12:26). For this reason, those who are baptized into Christ and nourished at the same table of the Lord are responsible for one another ; when a member of Christ's body dies, the faithful are called to a ministry of consolation to those who have suffered the loss of one whom they love .... The Church calls each member of Christ's Body -- priest, deacon, and layperson -- to participate in the ministry of consolation: to care for the dying, to pray for the dead, to comfort those who mourn.

SHOULDERING

Members of the community should console the mourners with words of faith and support and with acts of kindness, for example, assisting them with some of the routine tasks of daily living. The community's principal involvement in the ministry of consolation is expressed in its active participation in the celebration of the funeral rites, particularly the vigil for the deceased, the funeral liturgy, and the rite of committal. In the celebration of the funeral rites, laymen and laywomen may serve as readers, musicians, ushers, pallbearers and, according to existing norms, as special ministers of the Eucharist.

The quotes above are from the Order of Christian Funerals, approved for use in the United States by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and confirmed by the Apostolic See. 0 1989,1985, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved. Used with permission.

MOMENTS OF PRAYER WITH THE COMMUNITY

There are three moments of prayer: the Wake Service, the Eucharist (Mass) and the Committal Rite. Here is a synopsis and guidelines for each service.

THE WAKE SERVICE – Our Memory

Prior to the Funeral Liturgy, a wake is held to remember the life of the person who has died and to offer condolences to the family. The focus point is the "Memory" of the person and the gift of his/her life to the world. So often, family, friends and relatives of the deceased and the family attending the wake offer their condolences, prayers and memories.

Mass Intention/Offering. In the Roman Catholic tradition we believe that we continue to interact with those who have died because we are all members of the Body of Christ, empowered by our Baptism. Because we believe that those who have died experience a period of "purgation" (Purgatory), a time of continued preparation for the final judgment, we encourage all to pray for the deceased. It is our hope that when they arrive at heaven, they, in turn, will pray for us. Having a mass said for the person who has died is appropriate. Cards are available at the Parish Office as well as at several of the local funeral homes.

Wake Service at the Funeral Home. The Wake service recalls the life of the person and commends them to the Lord, reminding all those in grief that "we walk by faith, not by sight." The Wake Service is often held just before the official viewing hours, gathering together with the immediate family. It is also possible to arrange for the Wake Service to be announced in the obituary for a specific time.

Wake Service in the Church. A family may consider having the wake in the Church. The time would be the evening before and would be arranged with the Parish to avoid any conflicts. A Wake in the Church is especially helpful if the deceased is very elderly and the family wants to have a short visiting time before the Funeral Liturgy. We suggest having visiting from 8:00-8:45 prior to the Funeral Liturgy with the body already in the Church. When having a wake the prior evening the casket could be open; but a morning visiting time would have the casket closed prior to the Mass at 9:00am.

THE EUCHARISTIC LITURGY (Mass) – Our Hope

It is the "right" of every baptized Roman Catholic to have a Eucharistic Liturgy offered for the repose of their soul at the time of death. Although there is a tendency to eliminate this right – often preferred by the family members – we are saddened to know that a person who has attended Mass on a regular basis his/her entire life is not given a Mass of Christian Burial. At St. Patrick Parish, we strongly encourage those making arrangements to honor the spiritual history of the person who has died.

THE COMMITTAL RITE – Our Peace

Burial is the normal and acceptable resting place for those who have died. Even when a body is cremated the Church strongly encourages a proper and respectful burial of the remains. The grave is seen as a place of rest and anticipation – waiting for the time when the Lord will bring us to eternal life in heaven. The prayers of commendation and burial at the grave center on the hope we have prayed at the Mass. As our Rite of Christian Burial comes to and end, we pray for the consolation and peace for the family, friends and relatives as well.

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Time:

The funeral liturgy in the Catholic Church is a time for the family and friends of the deceased to gather with the larger church community for prayer and support. While there are many elements that lend focus and meaning to the Christian funeral, two are of particular importance: the Scripture readings proclaimed in church and the hymns, psalms and acclamation sung by the assembly. Also, the option for offering Words of Remembrance is possible. The Funeral Directors in the Belmont/Watertown area are experienced in helping families prepare for the Eucharistic Liturgy. They have available all the material for the family from which to choose participants in the Liturgy.

Through the Scriptures, the Word of God, the church hears anew the promise of new life. Our God, who has brought us into being, will restore us to a new and fuller life - "Our God is not God of the dead but of the living." [Luke 20: 38] Similarly, the hymns, psalms and acclamations sung by the community during the funeral liturgy fill us with hope and consolation. Music has a unique ability to touch our heart, to heal our pain, to express our sorrow and to lift up our soul. Below we offer some thoughts on the readings suggested for the liturgy as well as some hymns and psalms which may be chosen for use during the funeral mass at St. Patrick Parish. Our goal is that together we may rightfully and prayerfully bid farewell to your beloved family member in the church.

In the Eucharist Liturgy, three readings are recommended. Family or friends of the deceased are encouraged to proclaim the first two readings while the priest or deacon normally reads the gospel. Generally, it is good to select a person who has some public speaking experience. For a list of the suggested readings, please refer to the following LINKS:

All the recommended readings are in a PDF format and can be printed out and given to the designated reader. Remember to choose ONE Old Testament and ONE New Testament

Music for the Funeral Liturgy

There are several places in the Funeral Liturgy for selections of liturgical music. The order of the Funeral Liturgy is very much the order of a Sunday Liturgy.

Many of the hymns on the following list work well in several places during the Mass. Please select a Responsorial Psalm and four hymns. We will place these in the most appropriate places: Gathering Hymn, Preparation Hymn, Communion Hymn, and Recessional Hymn.

In addition, a Song of Farewell is sung before the Recessional Hymn. Unless you have a favorite Mass setting for the Eucharistic Acclamations (Holy Holy, Memorial Acclamation, Great Amen, and Lamb of God), we will use the ones most familiar to the community. If you would like assistance with planning the music for the Funeral Mass, please contact Patrice Buckley, Music Director.

Please choose one of the following Responsorial Psalms:

• ___ Psalm 23 – "The Lord is my shepherd…"

• ___ Psalm 25 – "To you, O Lord, I lift my soul…"

• ___ Psalm 27 – "The Lord is my light and my salvation…"

• ___ Psalm 34 – "Taste and see the goodness of the Lord…"

• ___ Psalm 42/43 – "As the deer longs for running streams…"

• ___ Psalm 63 – "My soul thirsts for you, Lord…"

• ___ Psalm 84 – "How lovely is your dwelling place…"

• ___ Psalm 91 – "Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble…"

• ___ Psalm 103 – "The Lord is kind and merciful…"

• ___ Psalm 116 – "I will walk in the presence of the Lord…"

Most of the following hymns can be found in the Breaking Bread Missal at Church.

You may have a favorite hymn that does not appear on the following list. Please feel free to suggest it and we will try to incorporate it.

Please select four hymns:

• ___ Amazing Grace

• ___ As the Deer Longs

• ___ Ave Maria

• ___ Be Not Afraid

• ___ Because the Lord is My Shepherd

• ___ Blest Are They

• ___ Come to Me

• ___ Eye Has Not Seen

• ___ Fly Like a Bird

• ___ Gather Us Together

• ___ Gift of Finest Wheat

• ___ Give Me Jesus

• ___ Go in Peace

• ___ Hail Mary: Gentle Woman

• ___ Here I Am, Lord

• ___ Hosea

• ___ How Can I Keep From Singing

• ___ How Great Thou Art

• ___ How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place

• ___ I, the Lord

• ___ I Am the Bread of Life

• ___ I Have Loved You

• ___ I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

• ___ I Know that My Redeemer Lives (Scott Soper)

• ___ I Know that My Redeemer Lives (Duke Street)

• ___ Into Your Hands, Lord

• ___ Irish Blessing

• ___ Jesus, Remember Me

• ___ Like a Shepherd

• ___ Lord of All Hopefulness

• ___ Lord, You Have Come

• ___ Now We Remain

• ___ O God, Our Help in Ages Past

• ___ On Eagle's Wings

• ___ Only This I Want

• ___ Panis Angelicus

• ___ Parable

• ___ Prayer of St. Francis

• ___ Precious Lord, Take My Hand

• ___ Shelter Me, O God

• ___ Shepherd Me, O God

• ___ The Lord is My Hope

• ___ The Lord is My Light

• ___ The Lord is My Shepherd

• ___ The King of Love My Shepherd Is

• ___ We Remember

• ___ We Walk by Faith

• ___ We Will Rise Again

• ___ Where My Father Lives

• ___ You Are Mine

• ___ You Are Near

Song of Farewell (you may choose one):

• ____ Song of Farewell (Ernest Sands)

• ____ Song of Farewell (Old Hundredth)

• ____ May the Angels Be Your Guide

• ____ Into Your Hands, Lord

• ____ Jesus Remember Me

• ____ Go in Peace

Download the Guide

The Liturgy of the Rite of Christian Burial moves our hearts and minds from "memory" to "hope." Jesus Christ, by his life, death and resurrection has given us the "hope" of eternal life. In a significant way, our prayer today is not centered on the life the deceased "lived" but on the hope for the life we "hope" they will live. This Mass is our prayer for the reward of eternal life for our loved one.

We follow the Archdiocesan guidelines for offering Words of Remembrance. Longer moments of eulogy are appropriate at the Wake.

1. WHEN:

2. WHO:

3. WRITTEN:

Prepared Text. The words of remembrance should be written out or typed. Experience shows that "extemporaneous" talks tend to ramble and lose focus. One or Two type-written pages, double-spaced, provides a well-centered timely reflection.

If the family chooses to have a Worship Aid at the Funeral Liturgy (prepared by the family or the Funeral Director), we offer the following format for the booklet:

The Order of Christian Funerals

The Order of Christian Funerals has three principal parts: the Vigil for the Deceased; the Funeral Mass or the Funeral Liturgy outside Mass; the Rite of Committal.

VIGIL FOR THE DECEASED

FUNERAL MASS

Is cremation permitted by the Catholic Church?

Since 1963, the Church has permitted cremation as long as the Church's teaching on the resurrection of the body is upheld.
 

How are the rites celebrated for someone who chooses cremation?

The Church prefers that the body be present for the Funeral Liturgy and cremated following the Final Commendation of the Liturgy. If there is a serious reason, it is possible to celebrate the Funeral Liturgy in the presence of cremated remains. A table is provided for the urn, a picture of the deceased and a small bouquet of flowers.
 

What rites can be used for miscarried or stillborn infants?

"Funeral Rites may be celebrated for children whose parents intended them to be Baptized but who died before Baptism. In these celebrations the Christian community entrusts the child to God's all-embracing love." (Order of Christian Funeral #237)
 

What rites can be used for a suicide victim?

This person is entrusted to God's love and mercy and is therefore entitled to the usual Funeral Rites.
 

What is done for a lapsed Catholic?

By virtue of Baptism this person is entitled to the prayers of the Church including the Funeral Rites.
 

What is the proper place for the Funeral Rites?

The Vigil service is celebrated in the presence of the body either in the funeral home or the Parish Church the night before. The Funeral Mass is always celebrated in the Church. The Committal Rite is preferably celebrated at the grave or the tomb.
 

Why is the grave or tomb the preferred site for the Rite of Committal?

The grave or tomb is preferred because the prayers from the ritual express clearly the finality of placing the body in the ground or in the tomb.