Funerals

In the celebration of the Funeral Mass, the Church commends the deceased to the mercy of Almighty God while proclaiming with confidence our hope in the Resurrection. United to Christ through Baptism, the faithful are entrusted to Him who has conquered sin and death, and so even in mourning, the Church prays with reverence and quiet joy, rejoicing in the Resurrection of our Lord and in the promises first given to us at the font of Baptism.

In keeping with this sacred hope, the Church insists that the faithful be granted the rites proper to their final passage from this life. To deny a Christian the Church’s funeral rites is to withhold an act of justice and love owed both to the deceased and to God, to whom their life belonged. As the law of the Church solemnly affirms: “Deceased members of the Christian faithful must be given ecclesiastical (church) funerals according to the norm of law.” (CIC 1176) By the Funeral Mass and its accompanying rites, the Church fulfills her final duty of charity, commending the soul of the departed to God, consoling the living, and rendering to the baptized the worship that rightly marks the completion of their earthly pilgrimage.

In addition to the Funeral Mass, the Church also provides for a prayer service prior to the Mass, most often celebrated at the funeral home the evening prior. This vigil service allows family and friends to gather around the deceased, hear the Word of God, and commend the soul of the departed to the Lord in prayer. It serves as a first liturgical farewell and prepares hearts to participate more fully in the Eucharistic sacrifice offered at the Funeral Mass.

The coordination of the Funeral Mass liturgy is handled primarily through the attending funeral home, which works closely with the parish to ensure that the rites of the Church are observed with dignity and care.

Any eulogy must be typed and submitted to the parish prior to the Funeral Mass and may not exceed three minutes in length. While the Church deeply respects the life and memory of the deceased, the Funeral Mass is not principally a celebration of a person’s life, but an act of worship offered to God for the repose of the soul of the departed. For this reason, personal remembrances are kept brief and subordinate to the Church’s prayer, which directs hearts toward Christ, eternal life, and the hope of resurrection.

Funeral Masses that take place during the school day will ordinarily be served by two students. If specific servers are desired, such as family members of the deceased, this request should be communicated to the funeral home in advance so that proper arrangements may be made.

Any further questions should be directed to the Office for Sacred Liturgy at 618-498-3518.