What is a Catholic funeral Mass?
The funeral Mass is the normal way the Catholic Church commemorates a person’s death. At the funeral Mass, family, friends, and parishioners gather to pray for the deceased and for the deceased person’s family and friends using scripture readings, prayers, and special rites. Because the Eucharist is the memorial of Christ’s own saving death and resurrection, it is the most appropriate way to celebrate at the time of death.
Are Catholic funerals always celebrated at Mass?
No. In some instances it can be quite appropriate to celebrate a funeral outside the Mass. This is commonly done, for example, when all or most of the family members of the deceased are not Catholic. Another example would be the funeral of a non-Catholic person who was married to a Catholic and had no other church affiliation. In both cases, a Liturgy of the Word without the celebration of the Eucharist is appropriate.
Who presides at funeral celebrations?
Normally, the pastor of the Cathedral presides at the funeral Mass. There are exceptions, however; for instance, if the family of the deceased has a priest who is a relative or a very close friend, he might be asked to preside. Also, a deacon or Lay Ecclesial Minister may preside at a funeral outside of the Mass.
Does the casket or ashes need to be present at the funeral?
If at all possible, the remains of the deceased should be present during the funeral Mass in order for the Church’s full rites for the dead to be celebrated.
Does the Church permit cremation?
The Church does permit cremation although it does not accord it the same value as burial of the body. And even in the case when cremation is going to take place, the Church has a strong and clear preference for bringing the body of the deceased to the Church for the funeral and delaying the cremation until afterwards. The reason for this is set forth in the Church’s Order for Christian Funerals: “The Christian faithful are unequivocally confronted by the mystery of life and death when they are faced with the presence of the body of one who has died… The body was once washed in the waters of baptism, anointed with the oil of salvation, and fed with the Bread of life. The presence of the body brings forcefully to mind the Church’s conviction that the human body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, destined for future glory at the resurrection of the dead.”
If cremation takes place, are the cremated remains brought to the Church?
Yes, the cremated remains, enclosed in a worthy container or urn, are brought to the Church for the funeral. After the funeral, they are buried in the ground or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. The Church does not allow the practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or of keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased. Such practices do not properly honor the dignity of the human body.
What is a “memorial Mass”?
A “memorial Mass” is a funeral celebrated in those exceptional cases when it is not possible for the remains of the deceased, whether in a casket or an urn, to be present.
Does the family of the deceased participate in the funeral?
Members of the family are encouraged to participate actively in the funeral. There are a number of ways for them to be involved. Some family members usually meet with the funeral coordinator to plan the funeral. Then, prior to the service, family members are present in the church to welcome friends to the celebration. They can also choose the pallbearers or even serve as pallbearers. They almost always place the funeral pall (a reminder of the white garment received at baptism) over the casket at the beginning of the liturgy. Family members can also proclaim the readings from the scriptures and present the gifts of bread and wine for the celebration of the Eucharist. In the case of a funeral when the cremated remains are present, a family member usually carries the urn in the procession.
Are eulogies ever permitted at funerals?
The person who presides at the funeral will give a homily or reflection during the service. And while the homily differs from a eulogy, most homilists make the effort to speak in a personal way about the deceased and to relate the scripture readings to the life of the deceased. But it is also possible for someone who knew the person best to also share reflections that are inclusive for all who are in attendance. This normally takes place at the end of the service. It should be no more than 3-4 minutes and then additional stories can be told at the reception and/or the cemetery.
However, if circumstances indicate that a eulogy is appropriate, it is offered by a family member or friend at the end of the funeral service and should be no more than 500 words in length. We do require that the text of the eulogy be shared with the funeral coordinator at least 24 hours before the funeral. This is done in order to ensure the appropriateness of the remarks and to assist the presider who will not want to make statements in his homily that will later be repeated in the eulogy.
When does the burial take place?
When the body has been brought to the church, the burial usually takes place immediately after the funeral or, sometimes, after the reception. If cremation is to follow the funeral, the burial of the remains often takes place some time later. The person who presided at the funeral or the funeral coordinator leads the graveside service with family members and friends in attendance. In some circumstances, family members can also lead a graveside service under the guidance of the funeral coordinator.