When a member of the faithful has died, the Church identifies three stations, or time periods, for the celebration of the rite of Christian burial:
The Vigil (Wake) - usually held the night before the funeral
The celebration of the Eucharist (Mass) - on the day of the funeral
The Committal (the place of internment, burial and mourning) - immediately following the funeral
The Vigil Service The Vigil for the deceased, commonly known as the Wake, is the initial rite celebrated by the Christian community at the time following death and before the funeral liturgy and the rite of committal.
The Vigil can take place in the church or in a funeral home. The celebration of the Vigil is the time for the Christian community to offer both prayer and consolation to the members of the bereaved family, to read and reflect on the Word of God, to call upon our God of Mercy through intercessory prayer, and to provide an opportunity for family and friends to recall the memory of their loved one. Other prayers, such as the Rosary, are also encouraged since they help us to reflect upon the Paschal Mystery and so lead us to a greater sense of hope at this time of grief.
The Mass of Christian Burial For Catholics, the celebration of the Mass is both the source and the summit of our faith. Hence, when we celebrate the Mass at the time of death, it is seen as the fullest expression of our faith in God's abundant mercy, our hope in the resurrection of the dead, and the love that God has for us, which is not extinguished even by death.
As an expression of our faith in Jesus Christ, we actively participate in the Funeral Mass. Family members may choose the Scripture readings for the Mass, cover the casket with the pall, place Christian symbols on the casket (crucifix, bible), present the bread and wine at the preparation rite, and help select hymns for the community to sing.
Members of the parish community also participate in the funeral liturgy and join with the bereaved family in the celebration of the funeral rites by proclaiming the Word, leading the faithful in song, serving at the altar and, if needed, helping with the distribution of communion.
A priest or deacon will preach at the Funeral Mass. By preaching on Jesus Christ, who conquered death by His victory on the cross, our faith offers consolation to the family in their loss and challenges the community to live more faithful lives.
Words of Remembrance differ from a homily and should concentrate upon the faith life of the loved one, highlighting his or her virtues and qualities. The sharing of memories with Christian charity, good discretion, and warm humor are appropriate elements. Words of Remembrance may be shared at the Vigil or at another appropriate time outside the funeral liturgy. Please review our Guidelines for Words of Remembrance. Please note that a eulogy is not allowed at a Catholic Funeral.
The Rite of Committal The Rite of Committal is celebrated at the place of burial. In the committal of the body to its place of rest, we express our hope that the deceased will experience the glory of the resurrection. The committal must always be celebrated immediately following the funeral, unless a good pastoral reason dictates otherwise, such as travel to a distant cemetery. In the case of cremation, the cremated remains of the deceased must always be immediately interred in a consecrated burial site. Is Cremation Allowed in the Catholic Church?
While the Church encourages burial of the body, after the manner of Christ's own burial, out of respect for the human body and belief in the resurrection, cremation may be chosen for a sufficient reason, such as hygienic or other reasons of a public nature, transfer of the remains to/from a distant place, or avoidance of considerable expense.
When cremation is designated, the funeral rites are conducted in the usual way with the body present and cremation taking place after the celebration of the Funeral Mass at the church.
In unusual circumstances when the bodily remains are cremated before the Funeral Mass, we still celebrate the Mass with the cremated remains present in the church and with the appropriate ritual adaptations. The cremated remains are always buried or interred. They are not buried on private land but in consecrated ground in a cemetery. It is not proper to scatter or pour the cremated remains over the sea, water, or on the land. This action does not give due respect to the remains of the deceased, nor does it allow for the closure and healing of family and friends. Likewise, housing the remains with family or friends and not placing the deceased in the ground does not offer loved ones a specific and sacred place to visit the Christian. Visiting the deceased in a holy place provides believers with a space to offer prayers, commune with those who have gone before us in faith, and reminds us to await the resurrection of our own bodies.
Final Thoughts on Catholic Funerals At times when death catches us off guard, we may not always remember that the Funeral Rites are liturgical rites of the Church. Therefore, please understand if the priest cannot accommodate some requests, such as a specific poem, song, or article that was your loved one's favorite. There are other moments outside of the liturgy, such as the Wake, when you can share these things with your family and friends.
Funerals are a special time for God's grace and mercy, a time to open your heart, receive His blessings and place your hope in the resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. The church has selected a number of Biblical passages which are appropriate for the occasion of the Vigil service and/or Funeral. Please look over these passages as part of your preparations and select those whose words speak to your heart. The family is invited to designate two persons to read the first two readings. Once you have selected the readings, please let the priest or deacon know which ones you have selected for each service, as well as the names of those who will be doing the readings. The priest or deacon will proclaim the Gospel. The psalm may be sung by a cantor. If read, the family may choose to select a third person to read the psalm, or designate one of the other readers.
First Reading - Old Testament
2 Maccabees 12:43-46 “…he made atonement for the dead…” Job 19:1,23-27 “…I know that my vindicator lives….” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “…A time to be born, a time to die…” Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 “…A time to be born, a time to die…” Wisdom 3:1-9 “…The souls of the just are in the hand of God…” Wisdom 3:1-6, 9 “…The souls of the just are in the hand of God…” Wisdom 4:7-14 “The Righteous One, though he die early, shall be at rest…” Sirach 2:1-11 “…in fire gold is tested….Compassionate is the Lord…” Isaiah 25:6,7-9 “…he will destroy death forever…” Isaiah 26:7-19 “…your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise…” Isaiah 35:1-10 “…Here is your God, he comes with vindication…” Isaiah 40:1-11 “…Here is your God, Here comes with power…” Lamentations 3:17-26 “…My portion is the Lord, says my soul…” Ezekiel 37:12-14 “O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise…” Daniel 12:1-3 “…the wise shall shine brightly…” Micah 7:7-9 “…though I sit in darkness, the Lord is my light…”
Matthew 5:1-12 “The Eight Beatitudes” Matthew 11:25-30 “come to me . . . and I will give you rest.” Matthew 25:1-13 “Look. The bridegroom comes. Go out to meet him” Matthew 25:31-46 “Come, you whom my Father has blessed” Mark 15:33-39 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Mark 15:33–16:6 “Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last” Luke 7:11-17 “Young man, I say to you, arise.” Luke 12:35-40 “Be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,…” Luke 23:33, 39-43 “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:44-49 “Father, I put my life in your hands.” Luke 24:13-35 “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer…” Luke 24:13-16,28-35 “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer…” John 5:24-29 “Whoever hears my word and believes has passed from…” John 6:37-40 “All who believe in the Son will have eternal life…” John 6:51-58 “All who eat this bread will live for ever….” John 11:17-27 “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:21-27 “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:32-45 “Lazarus, come out.” John 12:23-28 “If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies…” John 12:23-26 “If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies…” John 14:1-6 “There are many rooms in my Father’s house.” John 17:24-26 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me…” John 19:17-18, 25-39 “Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirits.”
Here are other alternate suggestions for appropriate readings:
Old Testament Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 Song of Songs 8:6-7 Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 Isaiah 41:8-10, 13 Isaiah 57:15-19 Isaiah 61.1-3 Isaiah 65:17-21 Ezekiel 34:11-16 Micah 6:6-8 Zephaniah 3:16