When most people think of Christian Funerals, they think of one event. In fact, Christian Funerals are made up of three events: The Vigil, The Funeral Mass and the Rite of Committal. In this topic, we will look at each in turn, as well as some other useful information along the way. You major assignment will be to prepare a Christian Funeral, so you need to pay attention to the key aspects and symbols of a Christian funeral. Much of the text from this topic comes from the Catholic Funerals Site, however in different Dioceses, there are different rules. Here are the regulations for Catholic Funerals in Melbourne,
ACTIVITY 16: CREATE A MIND-MAP
As you read this Topic, it will be helpful to create a Mindmap (using X-Mind or a similar program), so that you have the information summarised in a useful format.
Here's a quick explanation of a Catholic Funeral by a Priest before you read the details of the various stages of the funeral...
Preparations for the Funeral
The circumstances surrounding a loved one’s death can vary immensely. The very old person who peacefully and quietly died, the young child tragically killed in an accident. Suicide. A lengthy illness. No matter how death has taken place, the community of faith is called to console those who are grieving with words of faith and support and acts of kindness. Such assistance then allows members of the family to devote time to planning the funeral rites with the priest and other ministers. Often much has to be done in a relatively short period of time, and sensitivity by all involved will enable the funeral to be planned in a positive and helpful atmosphere.
In planning and carrying out the funeral rites, the priest and all other ministers should keep in mind the life of the deceased and the circumstances of death. They should take into consideration the spiritual and psychological needs of the family and friends of the deceased and their sense of loss. Planning of the funeral rites can take place at an appropriate time after death and before the Vigil Service. Ministers are then given the opportunity to explain the meaning and significance of each of the funeral rites, especially the Vigil, the funeral liturgy, and the Rite of Committal.
If pastoral and personal considerations allow, the period before death may be an appropriate time to plan the funeral rites with the family and even with the person who is dying. This can help all come to terms with the reality of death and Christian hope. The liturgical celebration involves the whole person and so requires attention to all that affects emotional as well as spiritual well-being.
The Vigil (the night before the Funeral Mass)
“In many circumstances the Vigil will be the first opportunity for friends, neighbours and members of the local community to show their concern for the family of the deceased gathering for prayer.” (Order of Christian Funeral #52)Very often at times of preparing for funerals people say, “It is our relative’s funeral, why can’t we just do what we like?” Sometimes people misunderstand that the liturgy is the Church’s prayer, and while there are several options available, there are also principles to be followed.
The Vigil (prayer in the Church, at the family home, or at the Funeral Home on the night before the funeral) is really the first moment of public prayer. There may have already been many opportunities for prayer at home or in a funeral home, but what we know as the Vigil is the time for the community to gather. This prayer can be a time of remembering, of giving thanks, of praying for forgiveness of sins and for strength and peace for the family who mourn. Ideally this time of prayer should take place in the Church, as the church is the place where the Christian community comes together to praise God, where the Christian life begins in baptism and is nourished in the Eucharist, and where the community gathers to commend one of its deceased members to God.
The structure of this Liturgy is very simple, and there are options, ask the priest and other parishioners to help you if you are unsure. The Vigil could be something like this:
A greeting and an opening song (well chosen music can touch people at levels words often cannot reach).
Scripture and response, or some other poems or readings (such readings are much more appropriate on this night than at the funeral Mass).
A brief homily or reflection.
Intercessions.
The Lord’s Prayer
Concluding prayer and a blessing.
Or, this is also the time when the Rosary may be prayed. This is the traditional way the Vigil was celebrated and many still prefer to pray the Rosary. People are very free to ask their priest to structure this in whatever way suits them: Rosary, Scripture Readings, Hymns and Prayers of Intercession. This is also an appropriate time for tributes to be given, eulogies to be delivered and memories to be shared. Often people wish to include eulogies or tributes as part of the Requiem Mass on the day of burial, but it is more appropriate to have them the night before. This is also out of sensitivity for the grieving family who may find it difficult to sit through an unnecessarily prolonged Mass or Funeral Service.
The Funeral Mass
“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 death, to commend the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion, and to seek strength in the proclamation of the paschal mystery” (Order of Christian Funerals #129).
To most of us, a Catholic funeral service in church is a Mass. Simply put, the Mass is a sharing in the meal provided for us by God through Jesus. It is the meal which bridges the distance between life and death. However the Church makes provision for a Prayer Service (sometimes referred to as a Liturgy of the Word) without Mass in appropriate circumstances, for example when the mourners are not Catholic or have ceased to practice the faith, and therefore would prefer a prayer service in the Church. Even for those who have committed suicide or for children who have not been baptized Mass may be celebrated.
Whether Mass is celebrated or not, the church service focuses on the story of Jesus. There is, of course, room for remembering the life which has just ended and naturally this person must be remembered. However, what we celebrate in Church is the hope Christ’s death and resurrection holds for all of us, and especially the fullness of life promised to the one who has died. That belief finds its expression in word (Scripture and prayer), in song and symbol (holy water, which recalls baptism; the Easter candle, sign of Christ’s risen presence; incense to honour the holiness of human flesh and symbolizes prayer ascending to God).
When the Scriptures are read, it is the priest’s privilege to reflect on them and share something of the hope they offer, the story of Jesus, and the promise of eternal life. It is his task to connect the life of this person who has died with the message of the Scriptures. Confronted with the mystery of death, human words are totally inadequate. The only word that carries authority is the word of God. It is the role of the Church to let that word speak and allow it to offer hope and comfort. The priest will proclaim the Good News of eternal life which Christ gained for us by his death and resurrection. At no time is the announcement of the Good News more appropriate and more necessary than at the time of death.
The rite offers many readings and prayers. Choose those which speak to your needs and memories. From the Church’s wealth of Scripture, hymns and songs, pick those which reflect your taste and speak to your heart, but remember it is always the Church’s prayer and must reflect the Church’s beliefs and practices. There is a further opportunity to weave your own concerns into the Prayers of Intercession. If you are unsure about preparing such prayers, then ask your priests or someone in the parish to help.
The final part of the church service is the Final Commendation, which is the prayerful and hope-filled prayer of the community. The priests offer prayers which express both the sadness and parting and the hope of future reunion. It is during this time that the casket is sprinkled with holy water to remind us once more of the promise of everlasting life given at Baptism. It is also incensed to show the respect and reverence due to the human body. Final prayers are offered which return this life to God and then the casket is taken from the church to its final resting place.
To get help in preparing a Funeral Liturgy, there are many useful sites on the Internet. One useful one is here.
The Rite of Committal (at the Cemetery)
“The rite (of committal) can help the mourners face the end of one relationship with the deceased and to begin a new one based on prayerful remembrance, gratitude and the hope of resurrection and reunion.” (Order of Christian Funerals #213). The funeral rite calls the Rite of Committal “a stark and powerful expression” of final separation in this life. This part of the Funeral Rite in some way challenges the discomfort we sometimes feel with death by urging us to stand beside the grave, face-to-face with death’s finality, but at the same time expressing hope in a life that will never end.
This last part of the funeral liturgy may be celebrated at the crematorium. For centuries, Christians buried their dead remembering that Jesus lay in a tomb. The Church continues to encourage burial, but does recognise cremation as a practical alternative to burial. Once cremation was condemned by the Church as challenging Christ’s power to raise the dead, but in 1963 the Church permitted cremation for such “good reasons” as national custom, financial or hygienic concerns, or even scarcity of burial space. In 1983 the revised Code of Canon Law (the law of the Church) reaffirmed the permission for cremation, however it “earnestly encourages” the time-honoured practice of burial, and allows cremation as long as it is not done for reasons which “contradict Christian belief.”
The committal is a short and simple service, it includes a brief Scripture reading and a blessing over the grave. The body is then entrusted to its final resting place with a powerful reminder of future resurrection. Prayers of intercession are offered for the dead and for family and friends, and the rite concludes with a blessing. It is appropriate then that there is some gesture of farewell, which will help you to feel that you have done all you can do for your dead and give you a sense of conclusion. Some people wish to place flowers on the casket, others earth, or some may even wish to fill in the grave.
In a culture where many people leave the Church and return to the day’s business, the Catholic funeral rite encourages us to accompany the body on its final journey to the cemetery and to stand beside the grave with the mourners. It is hoped that people see the three parts of the Order of Christian Funerals as a whole and that they participate in as much as possible of the Vigil Prayers, the Requiem Mass, and the Burial.
The Catholic Funeral is full of faith and hope. “The community (priest and people) seeks to be with the mourners in their need and to provide an atmosphere of sensitive concern and confident faith. In prayer and gesture those present show reverence for the body of the deceased as a temple of the life-giving Spirit and ask, in that same Spirit, for the eternal life promised to the faithful.” (Order of Christian Funerals #110).
Readings
As we learnt in Topic 4, in every celebration for the dead, the Church attaches great importance to the reading of the Word of God and accordingly it is not to be omitted. The readings proclaim to the assembly by the paschal mystery, teach remembrance of the dead, convey the hope of being gathered together again in God’s Kingdom, and encourage the witness of Christian life. The homily will reflect these pastoral elements in the context of the person’s life.
The psalms are rich in imagery, feeling, and symbolism. They powerfully express the suffering and pain, the hope and trust of people of every age and culture. Above all the psalms sing of faith in God, of revelation and redemption. They enable the assembly to pray in the words that Jesus himself used during his life on earth. The psalms are designated for use in many places in the funeral rites (for example, as responses to the readings, for the processions, for use at the vigil for the deceased). Since the psalms are songs, whenever possible, they should be sung. A brief homily based on the readings is always given after the gospel reading at the funeral liturgy and may also be given after the readings at the vigil service.
Music
Music is integral to the funeral rites. It allows the community to express convictions and feelings that words alone may fail to convey. It has the power to console and uplift the grieving and to strengthen the unity of the assembly in faith and love. The music at funerals should support, console and uplift the participants and should help to create in them a spirit of hope in Jesus' victory over death and in the Christian’s share in that victory. The ideal is to have music which reflects hope and consolation, but families often do request favourite music which they like. While the use of non-sacred music is not encouraged, it may be that the songs requested in line with the Christian message might be used.
Silence
Prayerful silence is an element important to the celebration of the funeral rites. Intervals of silence should be observed, for example, after each reading and during the final commendation and farewell, to permit the assembly to reflect upon the word of God and the meaning of the celebration.
Prayers of the Faithful
From the variety of prayers provided the minister in consultation with the family should carefully select texts that truly capture the unspoken prayers and hopes of the assembly and also respond to the needs of the mourners. Having heard the word of God proclaimed and preached, the assembly responds at the vigil and at the funeral liturgy with prayers of intercession for the deceased and all the dead, for the family and all who mourn, and for all in the assembly.
Symbols
The Catholic Funeral Mass can be a bewildering experience when we are not familiar with its many symbols! The Mass emphasises our faith in Jesus' triumph over death and our own hope in resurrection. We believe that death is not an end, but the beginning of a perfect, new life with Jesus in heaven. Through the many ceremonies and symbols that are part of our faith, we find hope in the midst of our tears. Here are some of the symbols we use to express what we believe:
The Priest's Vestments: Since we are celebrating our loved one's entrance into everlasting life, priests normally wear white, which is associated with resurrection and used at Easter, weddings, baptisms and other joyous events!
Flowers: Reminds us that in our simplicity, our humbleness and our frailty we offer a perfect gift for “not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these…”
The Easter or Paschal Candle: is lit to symbolise the light of the risen Christ and our belief that He has conquered the darkness of sin and death. This candle stands in the sanctuary space to greet the body and remind us that our loved one, through his or her death, shares in the victory of Jesus over the powers of darkness.
Incense: During funeral Masses, the priest at the final commendation may incense the coffin, both as a sign of honor to the body of the deceased (which became the temple of the Holy Spirit at Baptism) and as a sign of our prayers for the deceased rising to God. The usage of incense also adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell remind us of the transcendence which links heaven with earth, and allows us to enter into the presence of God.
Sprinkling of the Casket: We share in Jesus’ death and resurrection through the waters of our baptism. The same cleansing waters of baptism, are sprinkled over the deceased to remind us of the grace and hope that we have in Jesus our Lord and God's power.
Placing of the Pall: The funeral pall points back to the white garment given to us at our Baptism and symbolizes our life in Christ. It is draped over the coffin at the beginning of the liturgy.
The line we all remember...This is prayed towards the very end of the Funeral Service:
V. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon her.
V. May she rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.
Have you finished putting all that on your MindMap? You are now ready to begin your Major Assignment!
The Christian Funeral
When most people think of Christian Funerals, they think of one event. In fact, Christian Funerals are made up of three events: The Vigil, The Funeral Mass and the Rite of Committal. In this topic, we will look at each in turn, as well as some other useful information along the way. You major assignment will be to prepare a Christian Funeral, so you need to pay attention to the key aspects and symbols of a Christian funeral. Much of the text from this topic comes from the Catholic Funerals Site, however in different Dioceses, there are different rules. Here are the regulations for Catholic Funerals in Melbourne,
ACTIVITY 16: CREATE A MIND-MAP
As you read this Topic, it will be helpful to create a Mindmap (using X-Mind or a similar program), so that you have the information summarised in a useful format.Here's a quick explanation of a Catholic Funeral by a Priest before you read the details of the various stages of the funeral...
Preparations for the Funeral
The circumstances surrounding a loved one’s death can vary immensely. The very old person who peacefully and quietly died, the young child tragically killed in an accident. Suicide. A lengthy illness. No matter how death has taken place, the community of faith is called to console those who are grieving with words of faith and support and acts of kindness. Such assistance then allows members of the family to devote time to planning the funeral rites with the priest and other ministers. Often much has to be done in a relatively short period of time, and sensitivity by all involved will enable the funeral to be planned in a positive and helpful atmosphere.In planning and carrying out the funeral rites, the priest and all other ministers should keep in mind the life of the deceased and the circumstances of death. They should take into consideration the spiritual and psychological needs of the family and friends of the deceased and their sense of loss. Planning of the funeral rites can take place at an appropriate time after death and before the Vigil Service. Ministers are then given the opportunity to explain the meaning and significance of each of the funeral rites, especially the Vigil, the funeral liturgy, and the Rite of Committal.
If pastoral and personal considerations allow, the period before death may be an appropriate time to plan the funeral rites with the family and even with the person who is dying. This can help all come to terms with the reality of death and Christian hope.
The liturgical celebration involves the whole person and so requires attention to all that affects emotional as well as spiritual well-being.
The Vigil (the night before the Funeral Mass)
“In many circumstances the Vigil will be the first opportunity for friends, neighbours and members of the local community to show their concern for the family of the deceased gathering for prayer.” (Order of Christian Funeral #52)Very often at times of preparing for funerals people say, “It is our relative’s funeral, why can’t we just do what we like?” Sometimes people misunderstand that the liturgy is the Church’s prayer, and while there are several options available, there are also principles to be followed.
The Vigil (prayer in the Church, at the family home, or at the Funeral Home on the night before the funeral) is really the first moment of public prayer. There may have already been many opportunities for prayer at home or in a funeral home, but what we know as the Vigil is the time for the community to gather. This prayer can be a time of remembering, of giving thanks, of praying for forgiveness of sins and for strength and peace for the family who mourn. Ideally this time of prayer should take place in the Church, as the church is the place where the Christian community comes together to praise God, where the Christian life begins in baptism and is nourished in the Eucharist, and where the community gathers to commend one of its deceased members to God.
The structure of this Liturgy is very simple, and there are options, ask the priest and other parishioners to help you if you are unsure. The Vigil could be something like this:
Or, this is also the time when the Rosary may be prayed. This is the traditional way the Vigil was celebrated and many still prefer to pray the Rosary. People are very free to ask their priest to structure this in whatever way suits them: Rosary, Scripture Readings, Hymns and Prayers of Intercession. This is also an appropriate time for tributes to be given, eulogies to be delivered and memories to be shared. Often people wish to include eulogies or tributes as part of the Requiem Mass on the day of burial, but it is more appropriate to have them the night before. This is also out of sensitivity for the grieving family who may find it difficult to sit through an unnecessarily prolonged Mass or Funeral Service.
The Funeral Mass
“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 death, to commend the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion, and to seek strength in the proclamation of the paschal mystery” (Order of Christian Funerals #129).
To most of us, a Catholic funeral service in church is a Mass. Simply put, the Mass is a sharing in the meal provided for us by God through Jesus. It is the meal which bridges the distance between life and death. However the Church makes provision for a Prayer Service (sometimes referred to as a Liturgy of the Word) without Mass in appropriate circumstances, for example when the mourners are not Catholic or have ceased to practice the faith, and therefore would prefer a prayer service in the Church. Even for those who have committed suicide or for children who have not been baptized Mass may be celebrated.
Whether Mass is celebrated or not, the church service focuses on the story of Jesus. There is, of course, room for remembering the life which has just ended and naturally this person must be remembered. However, what we celebrate in Church is the hope Christ’s death and resurrection holds for all of us, and especially the fullness of life promised to the one who has died. That belief finds its expression in word (Scripture and prayer), in song and symbol (holy water, which recalls baptism; the Easter candle, sign of Christ’s risen presence; incense to honour the holiness of human flesh and symbolizes prayer ascending to God).
When the Scriptures are read, it is the priest’s privilege to reflect on them and share something of the hope they offer, the story of Jesus, and the promise of eternal life. It is his task to connect the life of this person who has died with the message of the Scriptures. Confronted with the mystery of death, human words are totally inadequate. The only word that carries authority is the word of God. It is the role of the Church to let that word speak and allow it to offer hope and comfort. The priest will proclaim the Good News of eternal life which Christ gained for us by his death and resurrection. At no time is the announcement of the Good News more appropriate and more necessary than at the time of death.
The rite offers many readings and prayers. Choose those which speak to your needs and memories. From the Church’s wealth of Scripture, hymns and songs, pick those which reflect your taste and speak to your heart, but remember it is always the Church’s prayer and must reflect the Church’s beliefs and practices. There is a further opportunity to weave your own concerns into the Prayers of Intercession. If you are unsure about preparing such prayers, then ask your priests or someone in the parish to help.
The final part of the church service is the Final Commendation, which is the prayerful and hope-filled prayer of the community.
The priests offer prayers which express both the sadness and parting and the hope of future reunion. It is during this time that the casket is sprinkled with holy water to remind us once more of the promise of everlasting life given at Baptism. It is also incensed to show the respect and reverence due to the human body. Final prayers are offered which return this life to God and then the casket is taken from the church to its final resting place.
To get help in preparing a Funeral Liturgy, there are many useful sites on the Internet. One useful one is here.
The Rite of Committal (at the Cemetery)
“The rite (of committal) can help the mourners face the end of one relationship with the deceased and to begin a new one based on prayerful remembrance, gratitude and the hope of resurrection and reunion.” (Order of Christian Funerals #213). The funeral rite calls the Rite of Committal “a stark and powerful expression” of final separation in this life. This part of the Funeral Rite in some way challenges the discomfort we sometimes feel with death by urging us to stand beside the grave, face-to-face with death’s finality, but at the same time expressing hope in a life that will never end.
This last part of the funeral liturgy may be celebrated at the crematorium. For centuries, Christians buried their dead remembering that Jesus lay in a tomb. The Church continues to encourage burial, but does recognise cremation as a practical alternative to burial. Once cremation was condemned by the Church as challenging Christ’s power to raise the dead, but in 1963 the Church permitted cremation for such “good reasons” as national custom, financial or hygienic concerns, or even scarcity of burial space. In 1983 the revised Code of Canon Law (the law of the Church) reaffirmed the permission for cremation, however it “earnestly encourages” the time-honoured practice of burial, and allows cremation as long as it is not done for reasons which “contradict Christian belief.”
The committal is a short and simple service, it includes a brief Scripture reading and a blessing over the grave. The body is then entrusted to its final resting place with a powerful reminder of future resurrection. Prayers of intercession are offered for the dead and for family and friends, and the rite concludes with a blessing.
It is appropriate then that there is some gesture of farewell, which will help you to feel that you have done all you can do for your dead and give you a sense of conclusion. Some people wish to place flowers on the casket, others earth, or some may even wish to fill in the grave.
In a culture where many people leave the Church and return to the day’s business, the Catholic funeral rite encourages us to accompany the body on its final journey to the cemetery and to stand beside the grave with the mourners. It is hoped that people see the three parts of the Order of Christian Funerals as a whole and that they participate in as much as possible of the Vigil Prayers, the Requiem Mass, and the Burial.
The Catholic Funeral is full of faith and hope. “The community (priest and people) seeks to be with the mourners in their need and to provide an atmosphere of sensitive concern and confident faith. In prayer and gesture those present show reverence for the body of the deceased as a temple of the life-giving Spirit and ask, in that same Spirit, for the eternal life promised to the faithful.” (Order of Christian Funerals #110).
Readings
As we learnt in Topic 4, in every celebration for the dead, the Church attaches great importance to the reading of the Word of God and accordingly it is not to be omitted. The readings proclaim to the assembly by the paschal mystery, teach remembrance of the dead, convey the hope of being gathered together again in God’s Kingdom, and encourage the witness of Christian life. The homily will reflect these pastoral elements in the context of the person’s life.
The psalms are rich in imagery, feeling, and symbolism. They powerfully express the suffering and pain, the hope and trust of people of every age and culture. Above all the psalms sing of faith in God, of revelation and redemption. They enable the assembly to pray in the words that Jesus himself used during his life on earth.
The psalms are designated for use in many places in the funeral rites (for example, as responses to the readings, for the processions, for use at the vigil for the deceased). Since the psalms are songs, whenever possible, they should be sung.
A brief homily based on the readings is always given after the gospel reading at the funeral liturgy and may also be given after the readings at the vigil service.
Music
Music is integral to the funeral rites. It allows the community to express convictions and feelings that words alone may fail to convey. It has the power to console and uplift the grieving and to strengthen the unity of the assembly in faith and love. The music at funerals should support, console and uplift the participants and should help to create in them a spirit of hope in Jesus' victory over death and in the Christian’s share in that victory.
The ideal is to have music which reflects hope and consolation, but families often do request favourite music which they like. While the use of non-sacred music is not encouraged, it may be that the songs requested in line with the Christian message might be used.
Silence
Prayerful silence is an element important to the celebration of the funeral rites. Intervals of silence should be observed, for example, after each reading and during the final commendation and farewell, to permit the assembly to reflect upon the word of God and the meaning of the celebration.Prayers of the Faithful
From the variety of prayers provided the minister in consultation with the family should carefully select texts that truly capture the unspoken prayers and hopes of the assembly and also respond to the needs of the mourners.Having heard the word of God proclaimed and preached, the assembly responds at the vigil and at the funeral liturgy with prayers of intercession for the deceased and all the dead, for the family and all who mourn, and for all in the assembly.
Symbols
The Catholic Funeral Mass can be a bewildering experience when we are not familiar with its many symbols! The Mass emphasises our faith in Jesus' triumph over death and our own hope in resurrection. We believe that death is not an end, but the beginning of a perfect, new life with Jesus in heaven. Through the many ceremonies and symbols that are part of our faith, we find hope in the midst of our tears. Here are some of the symbols we use to express what we believe:
V. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon her.
V. May she rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.
Have you finished putting all that on your MindMap? You are now ready to begin your Major Assignment!