Planning for the Funeral Mass
The Funeral Mass
The Funeral Mass is to be celebrated in the parish church. If the family is unable to celebrate a Mass, a Funeral Outside of Mass may be held in the mortuary chapel or parish church. The ordinary Service for a Funeral Mass is as follows:
Greeting of the Body at the Door of the Church
Family members, pal bearers, and clergy are gathered at the entrance of the church for the Introductory Rites. When a casket (or urn) is not present, the family simply sits in the front pew and the priest processes as he would at a normal Mass.
Opening Prayer
Liturgy of the Word
Family members or friends of the deceased are encouraged to read from the Sacred Scriptures. You are encouraged to select one reading from the Hebrew Scripture, one Responsorial Psalm (should be sung by cantor) and one from the Christian Scriptures. If you choose not to have music at this service, please select a reader for the Responsorial Psalm.
Please select a first reading from the Hebrew Scriptures [See Below]
Reading A: (Wis 3:1-9)
Reading B: (Ecc 3:1-8,10-11)
Reading C: (Is 25:6-9)A Reading from the Book of Wisdom (Wis 3:1-9)
But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
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A Reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes (Ecc 3:1-8,10-11)
There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
I have considered the task which God has appointed for men to be busied about.
He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without men's ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.I recognized that there is nothing better than to be glad and to do well during life.
For every man, moreover, to eat and drink and enjoy the fruit of all his labor is a gift of God.I recognized that whatever God does will endure forever; there is no adding to it, or taking from it. Thus has God done that he may be revered.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (Is 25:6-9)
On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said: "Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
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Please select a Responsorial Psalm [See Below]
Selection A – Psalm will be selected by Cantor
Selection B– Psalm 23
Selection C– Psalm 27
The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdent pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
He refreshes my soul.Response
He guides me along the right path
for his name’s sake.
Even when I walk through a dark valley,
I fear no harm for you are at my side;
your rod and staff give me courage.Response
You spread the table before me
In the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.Response
Only goodness and love will pursue me
all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is my life’s refuge;
Of whom should I be afraid?Response
One thing I ask of the Lord;
This I seek;
To dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life.Response
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord with courage;
Be stouthearted,
And wait for the Lord.Response
Please select a second reading from the Christian Scriptures [See Below]
Reading A: (Rm 6:3-4,8-9)
Reading B: (Rm 8:31b-35, 37-39)
Reading C: (1 Cor 15:20-23)
Reading D: (1 Cor 15:51-57)
Reading E: (1 Thes 4:13-18)
A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.
For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.
If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.
We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be to God
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A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans (Rm 8:31b-35, 37-39)
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?
Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us.
Who will condemn? It is Christ (Jesus) who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.
What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
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A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor 15:20-23)
Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being.
For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life,
but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
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A Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor 15:51-57)
Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed,
in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For that which is corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility, and that which is mortal must clothe itself with immortality.
And when this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about: "Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
(back to select)A Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians (1 Thes 4:13-18)
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore, console one another with these words.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
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A Gospel will be selected and proclaimed by the priest or deacon.
Gospel and Homily by priest or deaconGeneral Intercessions Read by Minister
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Communion
After Communion
We request that only one eulogy be offered at this time. It is recommended that the eulogist read from a text prepared prior to Mass and that the eulogy last no more than five minutes. All other eulogies should have been presented at the Vigil the night before. People may also share reflections on the life of the deceased after the burial service or at the reception. (for more on eulogy....)Final Commendation and Farewell
The body or ashes are incensed as a final commendation is sung
Recessional and/or Procession to the Graveside
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