Roman Rite- Funeral Notes

Order of Funerals within the Roman Rite

The funeral liturgy is the central celebration of the Christian community for the deceased. When one of its members dies, the Church encourages the celebration of Holy Mass. At this Mass 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, to commend the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion, and to seek strength in the proclamation of the paschal mystery. Through the Holy Spirit the community is joined together in faith as one Body of Christ to reaffirm in sign and symbol, word and gesture that each believer through baptism shares in Christ’s death and resurrection and can look to the day when all the elect will be raised up and united in the kingdom of light and peace.

Some of the following is taken from the Diocese policy # 130.1

1] That the Vigil Service be celebrated as part of the Waking of the body.

2] The praying of the Rosary is to be encouraged

3] At the Vigil rather then the Mass---family or friends speak about the deceased.

4] The custom of waking the body in the parish church is permissible and may be encouraged.

5] A brief homily should dwell on God’s compassionate love and on the Paschal Mystery of the Lord, how this mystery was present in the life and death of the deceased and that this mystery is active in the lives of those who are present as well.

6] White, Violet, or Black vestments may be used for Funerals in the US

7] The Church prefers that when ever possible the Funeral Mass be celebrated before cremation occurs.

8] Only Christian symbols may rest on or near the coffin during the liturgy.

9] Only readings from the approved Sacred Scriptures may be used in the liturgy.

10] We need to encourage-- praying for the souls of all the faithful departed, as only the declared saints are for sure in heaven and we do not know for sure the disposition of any others, therefore our prayers are needed.

11] The Church requires that the remains of cremated bodies be treated with the same respect as the corporeal remains of the human body. These remains must be interred or entombed.

1] The Funeral Mass is to be celebrated only in a parish church; it is never to be celebrated at a funeral home or in the chapel of a cemetery.

2] The title "Mass of the Resurrection" is not used appropriately when referring to a Funeral Mass.

3] The Order of Christian Funerals forbids eulogies.

4] Other symbols or national flags or flags or insignia of associations, have no place in the funeral liturgy.

5] Within the Sacred Liturgy only music that is truly and properly liturgical should and can be used. No secular music may be used.

6] Do not "canonize" the departed unless the Pope has declared them a saint.

7] Do not keep cremated remains at home.

8] The practice of scattering cremated remains is not allowed by the Church’s norms.