Guide for Catholic Funerals

Pastoral Center

24 Washington St., Augusta, ME 04330

(207) 623-8823 ▪ Fax (207) 623-7574

www.stmichaelmaine.org

Email: St.Michael@portlanddiocese.org

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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 commu-

nity 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 griev-

ing, 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 overwhelm-

ing.

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 incor-

porated 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)

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Uplifted by the knowledge that Christ has won for us the victo-

ry over death, we can begin to understand what he proclaims in the

Gospel: “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comfort-

ed” (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 minis-

ter 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 com-

mend the deceased members of the Christian faithful to God. Through

the funeral rites, the Church prays for the forgiveness of sins and prais-

es 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 pro-

fession 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 de-

ceased 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

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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 ar-

ticulate 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 con-

tain 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 much-

needed 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 layper-

sons who serve in parishes is invaluable. Parish staff can help expedite

the task of planning the funeral rites and make the process less burden-

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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 de-

ceased, 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 cele-

brated 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 commu-

nity.

Various reasons (including deference to the scheduled celebra-

tion of the Eucharist on Sundays/Saturday evenings, Holy Days of Obli-

gation, and the Easter Triduum) may lead a priest to decide, in consulta-

tion with the family, to celebrate a funeral without a Mass. Neverthe-

less, 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 equal-

ly in Christ’s death and Resurrection.

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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 fu-

neral 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 dea-

con 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 redemp-

tion. 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 dea-

con may permit one family member or friend to speak in remembrance

of the deceased and his/her life of faith, virtue and good works. Alt-

hough 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 respect-

ful of and to cooperate with the priest or deacon in preserving the sa-

cred character of the Catholic funeral, in accord with the liturgical prac-

tices of the Church throughout the world and the guidelines of the Dio-

cese of Portland. For this reason, the celebrant reserves the right to re-

view 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 ap-

propriate 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 careful-

ly 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

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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 accompa-

niment 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 forev-

er 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 resur-

rection of the human body. However, in order to express the symbolism

described above, cremation should occur after the celebration of the

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funeral liturgy. If this is neither possible nor advisable, priests and dea-

cons may permit the celebration of the funeral rites in the presence of

the cremated remains instead of the body. The presentation and place-

ment 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 non-

practicing 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.

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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 plac-

es where no other cemeteries are available or to allow the burial or inter-

ment 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 indi-

vidual graves or columbaria. In our tradition, we affirm both the unique-

ness 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 com-

munity 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 in-

terred, 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 re-

mains at home, and fashioning remains into jewelry or other objects—

have no symbolic meaning in our tradition and are never permitted.

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Consequently, the Church urges her members to reverence cre-

mated 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 endeav-

ored 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

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From St. Michal Parish Clergy and Staff:

Dear Friends in Christ,

On behalf of St. Michael Parish Family, please accept our heart-

felt 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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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 inter-

communion 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

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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 remem-

brance.

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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:

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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.

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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.

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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 em-

brace, 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 time-

less into their hearts, without one's ever discovering, from begin-

ning 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 re-

stores what would otherwise be displaced.

The Word of the Lord

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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