On behalf of our Pastor, Fr. Brian Nolan, and the Church of the Blessed Sacrament faith community, please accept our deepest sympathy during this difficult time. Please know that our community wants to be of help and support to you. Our Director of Liturgical Music is available to guide you in planning the liturgy for the Funeral Mass for your loved one. He will suggest ways for your family and friends to be personally involved in selecting the readings from scripture and appropriate musical selections.
INTRODUCTION
At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun in the waters of baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end nor does it break the bonds forged in life. The Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in the funeral rites with the comforting word of God and the Sacrament of the Eucharist. In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity.” (Order of Christian Funerals, #1)
The Catholic Funeral Rites in the Order of Christian Funerals are celebrations that enable the Christian community to mourn as well as to hope by focusing on the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ. These guidelines are a tool to assist in effectively preparing the funeral mass with individuals and families. Christian funerals are not private observances, but celebrations of the whole Body of Christ, in which, “Christians celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of life which has now been returned to God, the author of life and the hope of the just.” (Order of Christian Funerals, #5). The Church celebrates the funeral of a Christian with the Vigil (also known as the wake), The Funeral Mass, and the Rite of Committal. The Funeral Mass is the central liturgy of the Christian Funeral.
PREPARING THE FUNERAL MASS
The Order of Christian Funerals recommends that family members be involved in some of the liturgical roles unless they prefer not to be involved and designate others. Family members are encouraged to:
- Act as readers of the first and second readings·
- Assist in placing the pall on the casket, and placing of Christian Symbols·
- Bring forward the gifts in the Offertory procession
- Plan the readings and the music
A list of appropriate readings is provided in these guidelines, as well as appropriate liturgical music. The planning sheet will help plan for a beautiful and fitting funeral mass. The parish Bereavement Minister will contact the family to assist in completing the planning worksheet.
READINGS
Readings are provided in the Order of Christian funerals to give grieving families an opportunity to hear God speak to them in their fears and sorrows, offering hope in the midst of their pain. Readings may be proclaimed by family members or friends. We discourage immediate family members from reading due to the emotional stress that might be present. Appropriate readings are included in these guidelines. We request that readers do not read from papers. The readings will be set at the ambo. Appropriate Scripture Readings may be on the website page by clicking here or in the section below.
LITURGY
Sacred Music has an integral role in the funeral rites since it can console and uplift mourners while, at the same time, uniting the assembly in faith and love. Funeral music should express the Paschal Mystery and the Christian’sshare in it. Since music can evoke strong feelings it should be chosen with care. It should console the participants and “help to create in them a hope of Christ’s victory over death and in the Christian’s share in that victory. (Order of Christian Funerals, #30-31). Liturgicallyappropriate musical selections are found in the parish musical resource Gather. A listing of liturgically appropriate music is included in these guidelines. Popular music, which can warm the hearts of the grieving does not have a place in the funeral mass. This music can be used after the wake service, at the burial site after the Rite of committal, or at the family gathering after the Funeral Mass. The parish organist/cantor will provide the music for the Funeral Mass.