Guide for Catholic Funerals
Pastoral Center
24 Washington St., Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 623-8823 ▪ Fax (207) 623-7574
www.stmichaelmaine.org
Email: [email protected]
2
Our Catholic Funeral Guide begins with a Pastoral Letter entitled,
“That We May Have Hope—Funerals in the Catholic Tradition,” which
was issued by Bishop Richard J. Malone in November of 2011.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The promise of eternal life with God once the earthly journey
of a faithful disciple has ended is the greatest hope, comfort and
strength of our Catholic faith. As St. Paul taught the Christian community of Thessalonica:
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about
those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like
the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died
and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those
who have fallen asleep…Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore, console one another with these words. (1 Thess.
4:13-14, 17-18)
St. Paul’s exhortation that we conduct ourselves, even in grieving, as a people of hope can be a challenge. At times, our sorrow and
bewilderment in the face of the loss of loved ones can be overwhelming.
Yet, everything that we believe calls us to hope. The One in
whom we believe is the reason for our hope. From the moment sin and
death entered the world, God remained with us to the point of offering
his Son to save us. Through this sacrifice, God, who is love and for
whom nothing is impossible, conquered death and promised eternal life
to those who are faithful to him. Through baptism, we have been incorporated into the Body of Christ and transformed under the sign of the
Cross. We have been made sharers in the Resurrection. St. Paul calls
our attention to this truth in his Letter to the Romans:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him
through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in
newness of life…If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe
that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised
from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over
him. (Romans 6:3-4, 8-9)
3
Uplifted by the knowledge that Christ has won for us the victory over death, we can begin to understand what he proclaims in the
Gospel: “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). As Christians, our comfort is the Resurrection and
the hope of new and eternal life.
Reflecting on the Paschal Mystery and the profound hope that
we are called to embrace, our faith leads to action. Throughout the ages,
the prayer of the Church at the time of death has been one of hope, not
resignation or despair. Indeed, we have a responsibility to mark the
passing of our deceased brothers and sisters in Christ in a way that
gives witness to our faith and anticipates the consolation that Christ has
promised us in the Kingdom of God.
As the Church, we have shared a life of faith with one another,
been nourished by the same sacraments, and experienced God’s grace
together. The bonds that have united and defined us as God’s people do
not end with the conclusion of this earthly life. In death, we remain
“one body in Christ” (Romans 12:5). Thus, the Church’s concern for
her members does not cease in death.
Faithful to the Lord’s example, the Church continues to minister Christ’s sanctification so that each of us may be made holy in the
sight of God. Out of love, the Church discerns a solemn duty to commend the deceased members of the Christian faithful to God. Through
the funeral rites, the Church prays for the forgiveness of sins and praises God for the gift of life and salvation. All of us, as members of the
Body of Christ, share this obligation to commend the deceased to God.
The same faith that motivates us to baptize our loved ones and nurture
one another in the faith calls us to affirm our belief in the Resurrection
and join in the prayer of the whole Church.
As an expression of unity with the deceased and a fervent profession of faith, a funeral is not a private event. Rather, it is a public act
of worship whereby the whole community gathers in prayer for the deceased and the grieving. For this reason, the Church has taken care to
ensure that the celebration of funerals truly embodies the beliefs we
hold. The signs, symbols, actions, and words which mark the various
moments of the funeral rites have arisen from the tradition of the
Church as ways of witnessing to these beliefs and, thus, enabling the
faithful to contemplate the profound meaning of death in the life of a
Christian. The funeral rites invite us to lift our gaze to heaven so that
we may find hope in our sadness. Joined in prayer with one another, we
4
are consoled, and we dare to welcome Christ into our lives during our
time of grief. For as our Lord has promised, “For where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of
them” (Matthew 18:20).
With all of this in mind, I ask that every funeral provide a grace
-filled occasion for every participant to be evangelized anew by the
Good News of Jesus. Therefore, as you plan your funeral or that of a
loved one, please consider the following guidelines, which strive to articulate our beliefs and practices pertaining to Catholic funerals.
Pastoral Guidelines
A. Funeral Rites
1. There are various ways of celebrating funerals.
A Catholic funeral traditionally includes three parts: a vigil
(wake) service in the home or at a funeral home, the funeral Mass in the
church, and committal prayers at the cemetery. The priest, deacon or
lay ecclesial minister who assists in planning the funeral rites will work
with the family to select the most appropriate liturgical format. At
times, depending on circumstances, certain elements (for example, the
vigil service) may be omitted.
Also, each stage of the funeral rites provides the celebrant and
the family of the deceased with several options. The funeral rites contain a rich variety of scriptural readings and prayers from which to
choose. Regardless of which specific options are chosen, a Catholic
funeral is always a time to pause, to grieve, and to reflect on our eternal
destiny in God. In a society that tends to accommodate less and less
time for this important moment, Catholic funerals provide a muchneeded spiritual reminder.
2. It is important to collaborate with the pastoral staff of a parish
when planning a funeral.
When faced with the loss of a loved one, immediate planning of
a funeral is a difficult and trying experience. Understandably, some
families are reluctant to meet with the staff of their parish, who may be
unfamiliar to them. For parish staff, especially the clergy, the death of a
parishioner is a uniquely privileged and graced opportunity for the
Church to initiate outreach to the family, to welcome and to minister to
them, to evangelize, and, sometimes, to reconcile. Thus, those who
mourn will find that the assistance of the dedicated clergy and laypersons who serve in parishes is invaluable. Parish staff can help expedite
the task of planning the funeral rites and make the process less burden-
5
some. Furthermore, the ordained members of a parish’s pastoral team –
priests and deacons – are especially called to be Christ’s presence in
such difficult times. By welcoming the ministry of the priest or deacon
and by providing him with a better understanding of the life of the deceased, families will help to adapt and personalize the funeral rites in a
way that meaningfully conveys the Church’s consolation and prayer.
In many parishes, parishioners serve on a bereavement team
that assists not only in the planning of the funeral, but also performs
other ministries that take place during and after the funeral (i.e., readers,
cantors/choirs/musicians, altar servers, greeters/ushers, extraordinary
ministers of holy Communion, leaders of prayer in the home, at vigils,
and at committals, hospitality ministers at post-funeral receptions,
and pastoral caregivers who reach out to the family of the deceased).
These ministries, when adapted to local circumstances and customs, are
concrete reminders of the consolation that the Risen Lord offers to us
through His Body, the Church. Whenever possible, parishes should
strongly promote participation in these ministries by the lay faithful
who are called to serve by virtue of their baptism.
3. The Church encourages the celebration of funerals with a Mass
whenever possible.
Since the celebration of the Mass is a foretaste of the heavenly
banquet in union with God that commemorates and makes present
Christ’s victory over death, funerals are principally and preferably celebrated with a Mass, our most profound way of expressing communion
with the living and the dead. By offering Christ’s sacrifice to the Father
through the Mass, the Church pleads for God’s mercy for the deceased
and gives thanks for the hope of eternal life with God.
In particular, when planning a funeral Mass, the final wishes of
the deceased should be respected, most especially when the deceased
was a regular communicant and an active member of the parish community.
Various reasons (including deference to the scheduled celebration of the Eucharist on Sundays/Saturday evenings, Holy Days of Obligation, and the Easter Triduum) may lead a priest to decide, in consultation with the family, to celebrate a funeral without a Mass. Nevertheless, the family always has the option to celebrate a funeral Mass (even
in the absence of a body or cremated remains) at a later date. In this
way, we recall that every member of the Christian faithful shares equally in Christ’s death and Resurrection.
6
4. Funeral liturgies are normally celebrated in a parish church.
As an expression of faith and support by the local Catholic
community, a funeral liturgy (especially with a Mass) should occur in a
church, the sacred place where the parish gathers to pray, celebrates the
sacraments, and reserves and venerates the Body of Christ. A funeral
without a Mass may be celebrated in the home of the deceased, the funeral home, or the cemetery chapel.
5. A funeral includes a homily, not a eulogy.
At the vigil service and/or the funeral liturgy, the priest or deacon will preach after the readings from Scripture. The purpose of this
preaching—properly called a homily—is to explain the readings and
thereby highlight God’s merciful love and the mystery of our redemption. As Christians, we are challenged to be comforted by the truths of
our faith, and the homily serves to direct our attention to these beliefs.
At the end of the funeral liturgy in the church, the priest or deacon may permit one family member or friend to speak in remembrance
of the deceased and his/her life of faith, virtue and good works. Although these words of remembrance are permitted, the priest or deacon
has a duty to ensure that the Church’s funeral rites are conducted in a
dignified, respectful way. Families and friends are asked to be respectful of and to cooperate with the priest or deacon in preserving the sacred character of the Catholic funeral, in accord with the liturgical practices of the Church throughout the world and the guidelines of the Diocese of Portland. For this reason, the celebrant reserves the right to review the speaker’s text or outline in advance of the funeral Mass.
Words of remembrance are not to exceed five minutes in length. It also
is important to note that words of remembrance are optional and that
the most appropriate times for offering them are at the vigil/wake or the
post-funeral reception.
A eulogy, which focuses praise on an individual, is neither appropriate nor permitted at Catholic funerals. During a funeral, our
praise is directed toward God in gratitude for the Risen Christ and his
promise of salvation.
6. Music at funerals should express our Catholic faith and be
drawn from the Scriptures.
Because of the sacredness of the funeral and its focus on the
Paschal Mystery with its promise of salvation, music should be carefully chosen to reflect our shared beliefs, especially as articulated in the
Word of God. Ultimately, the purpose of music in the funeral rites is to
7
offer praise and thanksgiving to God. Thus, each funeral is linked with
the common prayer and musical tradition of the whole Church, especially
the psalms, which have, throughout the ages, expressed the suffering and
hope of all God’s people. Secular music is not the appropriate accompaniment to the sacred liturgy because it cannot express fully these values
of ultimate significance.
7. During a funeral liturgy, the pall which drapes the casket should
never be replaced by an American flag or any other non-Christian
covering.
In the United States, it is customary to place a pall (a large,
white, rectangular cloth) over the casket as it is received into the church
for the funeral liturgy. The pall is a reminder of the white garment with
which every Christian is clothed on the day of baptism and is a testament
to the dignity of the deceased as a member of the faithful.
American flags and other non-Christian (i.e., secular) symbols
do not belong on the casket during the liturgy since they do not evoke the
same meaning as the pall. Flags and other insignia may cover the casket
before and after the funeral liturgy.
However, Christian symbols such as a crucifix, rosary beads, a
Bible or a prayer book are permitted to be placed on the pall that covers
the casket.
8. If cremation is desired for legitimate reasons, the Church prefers
that the funeral liturgy occur before cremation.
As Christ’s Church, we believe that the human body is a temple
of the Holy Spirit, and that, like Christ, our bodies will one day rise from
the dead. The physical presence of the body of a deceased member of the
faithful is a very powerful symbol of this Christian mystery and belief.
Through our bodies, we are called to glorify God throughout our earthly
life, and we pray that on the Last Day, God will glorify our bodies forever in heaven. As the guiding text for the funeral rites recalls, “It is the
body whose hands clothed the poor and embraced the sorrowing…the
body once washed in baptism, anointed with the oil of salvation, and fed
with the Bread of Life” (Appendix, Order of Christians Funerals, nos.
411-12). The body of the deceased is a sign to the living of the goodness
of God’s creation and a foreshadowing of the new life to come.
Cremation is permitted, unless chosen for reasons that contradict
Christian teaching, particularly on the dignity of and hope for the resurrection of the human body. However, in order to express the symbolism
described above, cremation should occur after the celebration of the
8
funeral liturgy. If this is neither possible nor advisable, priests and deacons may permit the celebration of the funeral rites in the presence of
the cremated remains instead of the body. The presentation and placement of the urn for the funeral liturgy should be simple and solemn so
as not to detract from the dignity of the body in its cremated form.
9. Non-practicing Catholics may receive Catholic funerals.
It is an unfortunate reality that many baptized Catholics no
longer practice their faith and may consider themselves to have been
away from the Church for too long to be ever welcomed again by the
Church. Such individuals or their families may feel uncomfortable in a
church and ultimately decide against having a Catholic funeral.
By our baptism, however, we have been made equal in dignity
before the Lord, and the Church, our Mother, bears the suffering of all
those who became her sons and daughters through baptism. Thus, the
Church offers funeral rites (including a funeral Mass) even for nonpracticing Catholics and, under certain circumstances, for non-Catholic
Christians. Although the deceased may not have participated fully in the
life of the Church on earth, the Church longs for her separated children
to share in Christ’s blessings. She desires to pray for them and with
their loved ones so that their sins may be forgiven and they may dwell
forever in the presence of God in Heaven.
B. Burial/Interment
1. Catholic cemeteries are important in the life of the Church.
It is natural to desire burial near those with whom we have
formed bonds of friendship and love. As Christians, however, we also
have spiritual bonds with one another that exist in virtue of our shared
faith. Throughout history, Christians have been buried near other
Christians in places that have been blessed and dedicated for prayer and
remembrance.
Although Catholics may be buried or interred in non-Catholic
cemeteries, burial in a Catholic cemetery reaffirms that we remain
brothers and sisters in Christ, united even in death. Indeed, when the
Church gathers at a Catholic cemetery to commend the deceased to
God, we find ourselves surrounded by the graves and tombs of those
who died in the hope that they, too, may share in new and everlasting
life. In Catholic cemeteries, the faith of the deceased resonates with the
living, and we realize that they did not die in vain.
9
In those circumstances when the deceased is buried or interred in
a non-Catholic cemetery, the priest or deacon blesses the site of burial or
interment.
2. Non-Catholics can be buried or interred in Catholic cemeteries.
In this diocese, both non-Catholics and non-Christians may be
buried or interred in Catholic cemeteries. This may be requested in places where no other cemeteries are available or to allow the burial or interment of non-Catholic family members near their Catholic loved ones.
3. Although cremation is permitted, the Church prefers the burial or
interment of the body because of its symbolic value.
Burial or interment of the body has been the constant practice of
the Church, a sign of her reverence for the human body and belief in the
Resurrection on the Last Day. As Christ’s body was interred, so too does
the Church bury/inter the bodies of the deceased. The Church follows the
example of Christ in the hope that, like Christ, the dead will rise again.
The Church strongly encourages its members to continue this
venerable practice and avoid cremation unless it is necessary. In death,
the human body serves as a symbol of the goodness of creation and an
expression of the truths of our faith. We are called to have the courage to
look on the bodies of our deceased through the eyes of hope and foresee
the day when our bodies will be clothed with immortality.
4. Cremated remains are always to be buried or interred.
In keeping with our hope in the resurrection of the body, the
Church expects that cremated remains will be buried or interred in individual graves or columbaria. In our tradition, we affirm both the uniqueness of each person and the bonds that unite us as the Body of Christ.
Thus, we bury or inter the dead in cemeteries, which mark the lives of
each individual, while serving as powerful, visual reminders of the community that remains after death.
Burial or interment also serves to ensure that cremated remains
will be treated with respect in the future. Until they are buried or interred, cremated remains have the potential of being lost, discarded, or
mistreated. Other more secular practices—such as scattering, dividing
remains, co-mingling remains of one person with another’s, keeping remains at home, and fashioning remains into jewelry or other objects—
have no symbolic meaning in our tradition and are never permitted.
10
Consequently, the Church urges her members to reverence cremated remains just as we also reverence the body. To best express our
beliefs, cremated remains should be buried or interred in an appropriate
vessel that befits the dignity of the human body as God’s creation.
Conclusion
What we believe about death guides how we live our lives. As
Christians, we must carry life’s crosses and bear loss with hope in our
hearts. We must gaze upon the bodies of the deceased and remember
that through Christ, “the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers
are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the
good news proclaimed to them” (Matthew 11:5; Luke 7:22). Unlike
many in our secular society, we do not turn away from death nor allow
ourselves to believe that death is the end. Trusting that God “will wipe
every tear” (Revelation 21:4), we stand before him in grief but not in
despair. The funeral rites of the Catholic Church, which I have endeavored to explain briefly, invite us to live the virtue of hope. Through
these rites, the Church responds to death by celebrating the hope of
eternal life. As the Church’s liturgy helps us to pray and affi rm during
the funeral Mass:
In him the hope of blessed resurrection has dawned, that those
saddened by the certainty of dying might be consoled by the
promise of immortality to come.
Indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and,
when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is
made ready for them in heaven. (Preface 78, Roman Missal)
Given on the second day of November, the Commemoration of All the
Faithful Departed (All Souls), in the year of our Lord, two-thousand
and eleven, the eighth of my episcopate.
Most Reverend Richard J. Malone, Th.D., S.T.L.
Eleventh Bishop of Portland
11
From St. Michal Parish Clergy and Staff:
Dear Friends in Christ,
On behalf of St. Michael Parish Family, please accept our heartfelt prayers and sympathy as you remember and celebrate the
life of your loved one. Please know that our Pastoral Staff is
ready to assist you in preparing for and celebrating a Funeral
Liturgy. In the Catholic Church, there are two forms – a Funeral
Mass or a Funeral Service (Ceremony without Mass).
As you work with your Funeral Director, you may find the
following information helpful. Your Funeral Director will make
arrangements with us regarding the place and time of the
celebration. You may have the Funeral scheduled at any one of
our churches. Normally, Funerals are scheduled for 9am or
11am. We would ask that you give this serious consideration, as
our schedule could at times need to allow more than one funeral
on a given day.
The celebrant who will preside at the Funeral will contact you
and will try to set up a time to meet with you and other family
members to plan the Funeral, particularly in choosing the
Scripture readings. Please know that we encourage members of
the family to consider being involved in the liturgy, so we will
ask if you have some members of the family to assist with the
following: one or two people willing to proclaim the Scripture
readings (if not, we will provide a Lector to read); two people to
bring up the offertory gifts (if you have a Mass); and also if
there is a person who will be sharing Words of Remembrance,
please consult page 11.
The Funeral Director will also contact the Musician and Cantor
for the service. You may contact them to discuss the liturgical
hymns for the funeral. The fee for the musicians will be shared
with you by your Funeral Director. The fee for the Church is
$125.00 and is paid directly to St. Michael Parish by the funeral
home. There is no fee for the clergy presiding at the Funeral.
12
You and your deceased loved one will be remembered in our
prayers in the coming days and at our weekend Masses. In the
past, you have loved others, comforted them, and shared their
losses. During the hours and days ahead, it will be your turn,
your time, to be loved, to be comforted, and to let others share
your grief.
May the God of Hope give you the fullness of peace, and may the
Lord of Life always be with you!
With our prayers and sympathy in the Risen Lord,
The Clergy and Staff of St. Michael Parish
13
Celebration of the Funeral Liturgy
The Order of Christian Funerals is celebrated in three stations: the
Vigil for the Deceased, the Funeral Liturgy, and the Rite of
Committal.
The Vigil for the Deceased at the Funeral Home
As its name implies, the Vigil is generally celebrated the night
before the Funeral. The Vigil service is typically brief, consisting
of an Opening Prayer, a proclamation of Sacred Scripture, and
intercessions for the deceased. Sacred music may also be a part
of this service. If secular music or a eulogy is requested, these
take place after the completion of the Vigil Rite.
The Funeral in the Church
At the Funeral Liturgy the community gathers with the family and
friends of the deceased to give praise and thanks to God for
Christ’s victory over sin and death and to commend the deceased
to God’s tender mercy and compassion.
The funeral may take place in the context of Mass, or during a
Liturgy of the Word that is not Mass. The church is the place
where the community of faith gathers for worship. Therefore, it
is best that the funeral rites take place in the church.
In the act of bringing the body to the church, the members of the
community acknowledge the deceased as one of their own, as one
who was welcomed in Baptism and who held a place in the
assembly. Through the use of various baptismal symbols we
show the reverence due the body, the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Any national flags or insignia of associations to which the
deceased belonged are to be removed from the coffin at the
entrance of the church. Then the baptismal symbols and gestures
become evident.
The Paschal Candle is lit and placed at the front of the church
14
near the casket or urn. The candle reminds us of the light of
Christ, entrusted to us at our Baptism.
Sprinkling the body with Holy Water recalls the pouring of water
in the baptismal celebration to wash away our sin.
Placing the pall over the casket recalls the “white garment” we
were given at Baptism as a sign of putting on a new life in Christ.
Later, the body of the deceased is incensed as a sign of respect for
the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.
The Rite of Committal at the Cemetery
In committing the body to its resting place, the community
expresses the hope that, with “all those who have gone before us
marked with the sign of faith”, the deceased awaits the glory of
the Resurrection. The Rite of Committal is the final act of the
community of faith in caring for the body of the deceased. It may
be celebrated at the grave, tomb, or mausoleum.
This Rite includes prayers offered for blessing of the ground,
disposition of the body and for the consolation of those gathered.
If military honors are offered, they are done following the
completion of the Rite.
Sacred Scripture in the Funeral Rites
At the Vigil, Funeral Liturgy, and Rite of Committal, scriptural
passages are read. The Catholic Church does not permit
substituting other sources of literature for these readings. Poetry
or excerpts from literature are appropriately read at the funeral
home following the Vigil or at a later time when the family is
gathered.
If the family desires to select readings, they may choose from
Scripture readings listed within this booklet.
15
Flowers in the Church
Casket sprays are removed before the casket is brought into the
church. They may be replaced at the end of the funeral.
Flowers may be brought from the funeral home or sent directly to
the church. They will be placed so as not to obscure the altar,
pulpit, tabernacle, or block passage of ministers in the sanctuary.
Very few flowers should be brought into the church during Lent.
When the church is decorated for Christmas or Easter, other
flowers may seem redundant. You may wish not to bring them to
the church during these times.
Scheduling a Funeral Mass
Funeral Masses are NOT permitted on:
 Sundays at any time
 Saturdays after 1pm
 Holy Days of Obligation
 Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday
Funeral services apart from Mass can be scheduled on most days
of the year.
Other Liturgical Considerations
Placing of the Pall: A funeral pall, reminding us of the white
garment given at Baptism and therefore symbolizing our life in
Christ, is draped over the casket at the beginning of the
Funeral Mass. Family members or friends are welcome to do
this, though it may also be done by pall bearers at the direction of
the Funeral Director
Presentation of Offertory Gifts: Two family members or friends
who are Catholics in good standing may bring forward the bread
and wine at the Offertory Procession during the funeral Mass.
16
Holy Communion: Catholics in the state of grace are
encouraged to receive Communion. Others may come forward
for a blessing, indicating their desire to do so by crossing their
arms across their chest. Catholics do not practice intercommunion with the members of other Christian communities.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation: Those who are alienated
from the Church, from God, or from family members or friends,
may wish to become reconciled. The priest will be happy to
make the Sacrament of Reconciliation available to those who
request it. If possible, please contact him before the funeral
liturgy.
Music for the Funeral Rites: Music in the Funeral Rites allows
the community to express its convictions and feelings that words
alone may fail to convey. It has the power to console and uplift
mourners and to strengthen the unity of the assembly.
If they so desire, the family may request a liturgical song to be
included in the Funeral Rites. Final approval of this song rests
with the music director. Secular, national, or ethnic songs are not
permitted during the Funeral. Their proper place is after the Vigil
service or at a family celebration.
Funeral Music Selections
The following Hymns are suitable selections to help you choose
music for the Funeral Liturgy. Please ask the Funeral
Director if you have any specific requests and they will try to
accommodate your requests. The Funeral Director should inform
the musicians of your choices prior to the funeral.
Amazing Grace — Ave Maria (Bach, or Schubert)
Be Not Afraid — Eagles Wings — How Great Thou Art
Prayer of St. Francis — I Am the Bread of Life
Panis Angelicas — J’irai La Voir Un Jour
17
Cremation in the Catholic Funeral Rite
The Church prefers and urges that the body of the deceased be
present for the funeral rites. The long-standing practice of
burying the body in a grave or tomb in imitation of the burial of
Jesus’ body is encouraged as a sign of our Christian faith. When
the choice has been made to cremate a body, it is recommended
that the cremation take place after the Funeral Rite.
The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same
respect given to the human body from which they came. This
includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the cremains, the
manner in which they are carried, and the final disposition.
The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or
entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. The practice of
scattering cremains is not the reverent disposition the Church
requires.
If cremated remains are brought to the church for the Funeral
Rite, a small table or stand is prepared at the place normally
occupied by the casket. The vessel may be carried to its place
during the entrance procession or may be placed on the table or
stand before the liturgy begins. It is also customary to have a
small vase of flowers and an 8 1/2 x 11” framed image on the
table near the cremains.
Words of Remembrance
Words of Remembrance, briefly describing the ways in which the
deceased demonstrated his or her Christian values, are sometimes
offered at the Funeral celebration. If they choose, the family is
asked to select only ONE person and they are asked to be brief.
No more than two pages or 5 minutes are permitted. Please
speak with the priest or deacon about offering words of remembrance.
18
Funeral Planning Worksheet
In order to assist you in planning the funeral liturgy please fill out
the following worksheet and share this information with the
Funeral Director and Priest.
Pages 19 – 26 contain two sections of Scriptures readings.
Section A are readings from the Old Testament and Section B are
readings from the New Testament. Please choose one reading
from Each section and fill in which reading you would like as
well as who will be proclaiming the reading at the funeral Mass.
Pall (2-4 people):
;
;
Placing of Christian Symbols:
Cross: 1 person
Bible: 1 person
1st Reading: One from section A
2nd Reading: One from section B
Intercessions: 1 person
Offertory Gifts: 2 people
;
Words of Remembrance: 1 person
Music Selection: (see page 16 or ask your Funeral Director)
Processional:
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23 – Good Shepherd
Offertory:
Communion:
Song of Farewell: Saints of God
Recessional:
19
Readings from the Old Testament
A-1 … Job 19:1, 23-27a
A reading from the Book of Job
Job answered Bildad the Shuhite and said:
Oh, would that my words were written down!
Would that they were inscribed in a record:
That with an iron chisel and with lead they were
cut in the rock forever!
But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives,
and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust;
The Word of the Lord.
A-2 … Wisdom 3:1-6
A reading from the Book of Wisdom
The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them and found them worthy of
himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.
The Word of the Lord.
20
A-3 … Isaiah 25:6, 7-9
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all
peoples. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that
veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole
earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
The Word of the Lord.
A-4 … Lamentations 3:17-26
A reading from the Book of Lamentations
My soul is deprived of peace,
I have forgotten what happiness is;
I tell myself my future is lost, all that I hoped for from the
LORD. The thought of my homeless poverty is worm
wood and gall; remembering it over and over leaves my
soul downcast within me.
But I will call this to mind, as my reason to have hope:
The favors of the LORD are not exhausted, his mercies
are not spent; they are renewed each morning, so great is
his faithfulness.
21
My portion is the LORD, says my soul; therefore will I
hope in him. Good is the LORD to one who waits for
him, to the soul that seeks him.
It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the
LORD.
The Word of the Lord.
A-5 … Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
A Reading from the Letter of Ecclesiastes
There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every
affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a
time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a
time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to
weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a
time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to
rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of
peace.
What advantage has the worker from his toil? I have considered
the task which God has appointed for all to be busied about. He
has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without one's ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.
I recognize that there is nothing better than to be glad and to do
well during life. For everyone, moreover, to eat and drink and
enjoy the fruit of all his labor is a gift of God. I recognized that
whatever God does will endure forever; there is no adding to it, or
taking from it. Thus has God done that he may be revered. What
now is has already been; what is to be, already is; and God restores what would otherwise be displaced.
The Word of the Lord
22
New Testament Readings
B-1 … Romans 5:5-11
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans
Brothers and sisters: Hope does not disappoint, because
the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For
Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the
appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with
difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps
for a good person one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us in that while we were still
sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we
are now justified by his Blood, will we be saved through
him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,
how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his
life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received
reconciliation.
The Word of the Lord.
B-2 … Romans 6:3-9
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans
Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed
buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just
as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the
Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we
have grown into union with him through a death like his,
we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We
know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our
23
sinful body might be done away with, that we might no
longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been
absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we
believe that we shall also live with him. We know that
Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;
death no longer has power over him.
The Word of the Lord.
B-3 … Romans 8:14-23
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans
Brothers and sisters:
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into
fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which
we cry, Abba, “Father!” The Spirit itself bears witness
with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children,
then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only
we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with
him.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as
nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For
creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of
the children of God; for creation was made subject to
futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who
subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free
from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious
freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation
is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only
that, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the
Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for
adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
The Word of the Lord.
24
B-4 … Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans
Brothers and sisters: If God is for us, who can be against
us? He did not spare his own Son but handed him over for
us all, will he not also give us everything else along with
him? Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ
Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right
hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will
separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or
distress or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril,
or the sword? No, in all these things, we conquer over
whelmingly through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor
powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will
be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
B-5 … Romans 14:7-9, 10c-12
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans
Brothers and sisters: No one lives for oneself, and no one
dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if
we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or
die, we are the Lord’s. For this is why Christ died and
came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and
the living. Why then do you judge your brother? Or
you, why do you look down on your brother? For we shall
all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written:
As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God. So then each
of us shall give an accounting of himself to God.
The Word of the Lord.
25
B-6 … 2 Corinthians 4:14-5:1
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
Brothers and sisters: We know that the One who raised
the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us
with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so
that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more
people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the
glory of God.
Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our
outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed
day by day. For this momentary light affliction is
producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all
comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is
unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is
eternal. For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent,
should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a
dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.
The Word of the Lord.
B-7 … 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
Brothers and sisters: We know that if our earthly dwell
ing, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from
God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.
We are always courageous, although we know that while
we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous,
and we would rather leave the body and go home to the
Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are
at home or away.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
so that each may receive recompense, according to what
he did in the body, whether good or evil.
The Word of the Lord.
26
B-8 … 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about
those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the
rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,
so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have
fallen asleep.
Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are
alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not
precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, with
a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the
trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in
Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together
with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall
always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with
these words.
The Word of the Lord.
B-9 … 1 Philippians 3:20-21
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians
Brothers and sisters:
Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform
with his glorified Body by the power that enables him also to
bring all things into subjection to himself.
The Word of the Lord.
27
General Intercessions
Priest: Jesus is risen from the dead and sits at the right hand of the
Father, where He intercedes for His Church. Confident that God hears
the voices of those who trust in the Lord Jesus, we join our prayers to
His:
Lector: Please respond, “Lord, hear our prayer.”
For
who in baptism was given the pledge of eternal
life, that he/she may now be admitted to the company of the saints.
We pray to the Lord. ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.
For our brother/sister who ate the Body of Christ, the Bread of Life, that
he may be raised up on the last day. We pray to the Lord. ALL:
Lord, hear our prayer.
For our deceased relatives and friends and for all who have helped us,
that they may have the reward of their goodness. We pray to the
Lord. ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who have fallen asleep in the hope of rising again, that they
may see God face to face. We pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.
For the family and friends of our brother/sister
, that they may
be consoled in their grief by the Lord, who wept at the death of his
friend, Lazarus. We pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.
For all of us gathered here to worship in faith, that we may be gathered
together again in God’s kingdom. We pray to the Lord. ALL:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Priest: God, our shelter and our strength, you listen in love to the cry
of your people: hear the prayers we offer for our departed brothers and
sisters. Cleanse them from their sins and grant them the fullness of
redemption. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
ALL: AMEN.
28