2 questions on funerals

[a83192]

First,when the family of a deceased person invites a priest over to the funeral home (the wake) and he comes what prayers would he use? I once saw a priest come and read Gospel Readings and some prayers in the style of the Collects at a wake. Is this a liturgical thing in the Roman Ritual?

Second, can a funeral Mass be said at the funeral home itself in the room of the wake? If so , do servers participate? Who is chosen to be the lector or lectors? How is an altar prepared and procured for such Mass?

 

[ConstantineTG]

Can’t answer the first. But the second I can. It would depend on your diocese. Just recently the Archdiocese of Vancouver issued a statement from the Bishops of British Columbia regarding how to conduct a Catholic funeral. One of the things mentioned is that the Funeral Mass is to be celebrated in a proper parish.

On the other hand growing up in the Philippines, I’ve seen Masses held wherever the remains are interred, be it funeral home, home, or brought to the church.

So it will depend on the Bishop whats the rules are for your diocese.

 

[Phemie]

First,when the family of a deceased person invites a priest over to the funeral home (the wake) and he comes what prayers would he use? I once saw a priest come and read Gospel Readings and some prayers in the style of the Collects at a wake. Is this a liturgical thing in the Roman Ritual?

There are several parts to the Funeral Rite:
Prayers after Death
Gathering in the Presence of the Body
Funeral Vigil
Transfer of the Body to the Church or to the Place of Committal
Funeral Liturgy (either within or outside the Mass)Final Commendation

Usually, if the priest is called to the home or hospital immediately after the person’s death he will recite the “Prayers after Death”.

On his first visit to the wake (in our parish we do this only with the family when they first view the body) he will recite the prayers of “Gathering in the Presence of the Body”:
Sign of the Cross
Greeting
Scripture Verse (we usually ask a family member to do this)
Sprinkling of Holy Water and Placing of Christian Symbols
Psalm (again, usually read by a family member)
The Lord’s Prayer
Concluding Prayer
Responsory
Blessing

Second, can a funeral Mass be said at the funeral home itself in the room of the wake? If so , do servers participate? Who is chosen to be the lector or lectors? How is an altar prepared and procured for such Mass?

Some funeral homes have chapels and Mass may be celebrated there but usually the body is transfered to the church. If there were compelling reasons for the funeral to be held at the funeral home, a simple table with a white cloth can be used for an altar.

Altar servers could be used if they were available.

Readers are usually chosen by the family.

 

[Joannm]

First,when the family of a deceased person invites a priest over to the funeral home (the wake) and he comes what prayers would he use? I once saw a priest come and read Gospel Readings and some prayers in the style of the Collects at a wake. Is this a liturgical thing in the Roman Ritual?

Second, can a funeral Mass be said at the funeral home itself in the room of the wake? If so , do servers participate? Who is chosen to be the lector or lectors? How is an altar prepared and procured for such Mass?

In the Order of Christian Funerals there is a wake service that is basically a Liturgy of the Word. There are readings, a psalm, a brief homily and other prayers and a blessing of the body. This is what the Church calls to be done at the wake. A priest is not necessary to do this as it can also be done by a deacon or qualified lay person.

A funeral service can be done in a funeral home, not a Mass. I have never seen servers at a funeral service in the home but readers can be chosen among family members. The only times our priests are asked to do funeral services is if there really are no family members or if the family requests on instead of a Mass.

 

[johnnykins]

It is traditional to say the Rosary - usually the Glorious Mysteries - at the wake. It has fallen out of vogue somewhat (too many don’t even know it now), but was the usual prayer said at the wake. It was led by either a priest or a family member.

 

[Joannm]

It is traditional to say the Rosary - usually the Glorious Mysteries - at the wake. It has fallen out of vogue somewhat (too many don’t even know it now), but was the usual prayer said at the wake. It was led by either a priest or a family member.

It might be traditional but the Vigil for the Deceased from the Order of Christian Funerals is the official rite that is done at the wake.

 

[johnnykins]

It might be traditional but the Vigil for the Deceased from the Order of Christian Funerals is the official rite that is done at the wake.

No dispute on that.

I just thought a reference to the traditional devotion was warranted. And, I’m sure you’d agree, that nothing prohibits saying the Rosary at a wake.

 

[corsair]

A few years ago a friend passed on and the family held the wake in the home with the casket opened and displayed with candles and flowers. The Deacon came and led the Rosary, after which friends were invited to share stories about the deceased. Then a meal was served.

The funeral was held at the church the next day and interrment followed in the church cemetary with the bell tolling.

Very nicely done.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

In the Order of Christian Funerals there is a wake service that is basically a Liturgy of the Word. There are readings, a psalm, a brief homily and other prayers and a blessing of the body. This is what the Church calls to be done at the wake. A priest is not necessary to do this as it can also be done by a deacon or qualified lay person.

…

I recall seeing someplace that the appropriate Hour from the Liturgy of the Hours for the Dead may be used for a Vigil.,

Most families will insist on the Rosary, and one does not want a big argument at that time; one tries to accommodate them. There is a great need to educate Catholics in the proper forms.

The Liturgy of the Word, or of the Hours, works much better these days when many of the attendees are not practicing Catholics and are bored by the Rosary.

 

[hope1986]

Here in ireland people are normally waked at home,usually friends and family call in and sit for a while with the family and comfort them and tell stories about the decessed, and its a traditon for a decade of the rosary to be said before they are brought to the church for the funeral service, its normally led by either the head of the family or a close family friend.
Another wonderful traditon i discovered when my stepgrandmother died was that in the village she came from and apperently in alot of rural places here the neighbours help to dig the grave. Maggie loved daffidols and passed way when they were in bloom, the cloth covering the edges of the grave had hudreds of daffidols weaved in, still brings a tear to my eye when i think of all the trouble her neighbours went to, to give her a wonderful send off.

Ive always thought its a lovely traditon

 

[Joannm]

I recall seeing someplace that the appropriate Hour from the Liturgy of the Hours for the Dead may be used for a Vigil.,

Most families will insist on the Rosary, and one does not want a big argument at that time; one tries to accommodate them. There is a great need to educate Catholics in the proper forms.

The Liturgy of the Word, or of the Hours, works much better these days when many of the attendees are not practicing Catholics and are bored by the Rosary.

Yes the hours for the Dead can be used. It states so in the Rite of Christian Funerals. There are two options. I agree that the Rosary can be a turn off for those who are not Catholics. Also it can take longer than an actual Liturgy of the Word or of the Hours. I haven’t seen a rosary prayed at a wake in years, except a decade only when the Ladies club came to the wake in the afternoon and led it.

 

[Phemie]

Yes the hours for the Dead can be used. It states so in the Rite of Christian Funerals. There are two options. I agree that the Rosary can be a turn off for those who are not Catholics. Also it can take longer than an actual Liturgy of the Word or of the Hours. I haven’t seen a rosary prayed at a wake in years, except a decade only when the Ladies club came to the wake in the afternoon and led it.

In our parish, when a KofC member or one of his family members dies, the Knights gather at the wake to pray the rosary. Each decade is recited by a different Knight.

Sadly, if you’re not Catholic (and even if you are but learned the Rosary in another language) most of what you’re going to hear are mumbles. If you’re Catholic you’ll know that when the mumbler pauses you have to respond. If you happen to come in half way through the mumble you have a 33.33% chance of giving the right response because you really won’t be sure if it was the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary or the Glory Be. The same with the Rosary at daily Mass. Why so few people seem to be able to enunciate when they pray the Rosary is beyond me.

 

[johnnykins]

The Liturgy of the Word, or of the Hours, works much better these days when many of the attendees are not practicing Catholics and are bored by the Rosary.

Originally Posted by Joannm
I agree that the Rosary can be a turn off for those who are not Catholics.

I take great exception to this attitude that we are to compromise Catholicism to accommodate non-Catholics. This sort of self-hating Catholicism that seeks to relegate Catholic devotions, e.g., the Rosary, to oblivion strikes me as a pernicious, counterproductive and scandalous misapplication of charity that says more about the lack of understanding and fortitude on the part of those who advocate it than anything else. (Frankly, the diminution in the practice of saying the Rosary, IMHO, has more to do with a self-hating embarrassment in devotion to the BVM than a real desire to implement the current rite. Simply having listened to priests, brothers and nuns in the 70s has convinced me of that!)

Not too long ago I attended a funeral Mass in a Catholic Church for a deceased practicing Catholic whose surviving spouse and daughter, who were present, are practicing Catholics. With the logic reflected in the quote above, the priest, inter alia, instructed the congregation to sit during the Eucharistic Prayer and led the Our Father in the usual Protestant manner. The only people confused were the Catholics. The only people made unwelcome were Catholics who saw the Mass adulterated in a misplaced effort to be welcoming by an unauthorized arrogance in changing the Mass texts and rubrics.

It really is time to stop being ashamed of Catholicism, to once again say Catholic prayers in Catholic settings, to assert and be proud of our faith. Believe it or not, non-Catholics expect a Catholic service for deceased Catholics. Catholics should, too!

 

[Chatter163]

I would have to echo a good portion of what the poster immediately above me has said. The rosary–indeed, all prayers at any office for the deas–are being offered for the repose of the departed soul, rather than for the placating of any non-Catholics who may be present. When I attend a non-Catholic funeral, I expect that prayers will follow whatever religion the deceased adhered to, and I expect that the same respect should be afforded a departed Catholic.

 

[PJM]

=a83192;7340258]First,when the family of a deceased person invites a priest over to the funeral home (the wake) and he comes what prayers would he use? I once saw a priest come and read Gospel Readings and some prayers in the style of the Collects at a wake. Is this a liturgical thing in the Roman Ritual?

Second, can a funeral Mass be said at the funeral home itself in the room of the wake? If so , do servers participate? Who is chosen to be the lector or lectors? How is an altar prepared and procured for such Mass?

***While expereinced, I’m not an expert.

But I beleive the priest has some freedom of choice in what prayers or reading he chooses. The family of course can also make known there wishes in this regard.

As for the Mass: ONLY is rare cases and with the prior approval of the Bishop.

Servers can always participate, but are not obligatory [but at least one person to hear the Mass, agai in usual circumstances is.

The family can provide the lector’s or permit the priest to handle [or delegate] these duties. An altar [even temporary] is to be set for Mass just like in Church. With altar clothes and candels.***

May they rest in peace: Amen!

 

[puzzleannie]

First,when the family of a deceased person invites a priest over to the funeral home (the wake) and he comes what prayers would he use? I once saw a priest come and read Gospel Readings and some prayers in the style of the Collects at a wake. Is this a liturgical thing in the Roman Ritual?

yes there is a wake service in the Order for Christian Burial which is essentially a liturgy of the word with other prayers

Second, can a funeral Mass be said at the funeral home itself in the room of the wake? If so , do servers participate? Who is chosen to be the lector or lectors? How is an altar prepared and procured for such Mass?

no Mass should be celebrated only in church or other sacred space unless there is an overriding reason to celebrate elsewhere. Yes a funeral service can be held led by a priest or deacon in the funeral home, but it is not Mass. If a priest or deacon is not available a lay person can preside over the wake service, and parts of the funeral service and the committal service (at the graveside or mortuary).

 

[Another_Mary]

It’s always been the tradition in my area to have a rosary in the evening at the funeral home or church, and then the funeral the next day.

I was recently at a rosary conducted by a deacon. Not many were in attendance and not all were Catholic. The deacon read the reading of the day and then the Gospel and did some sprinkling with holy water, praying and a little explaining about our prayers. Then he started the rosary.

It was interesting to hear the people gradually joining in the prayers in soft hesitant voices. By the end there were several strong voices praying together.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I take great exception to this attitude that we are to compromise Catholicism to accommodate non-Catholics. This sort of self-hating Catholicism that seeks to relegate Catholic devotions, e.g., the Rosary, to oblivion strikes me as a pernicious, counterproductive and scandalous misapplication of charity that says more about the lack of understanding and fortitude on the part of those who advocate it than anything else. (Frankly, the diminution in the practice of saying the Rosary, IMHO, has more to do with a self-hating embarrassment in devotion to the BVM than a real desire to implement the current rite. Simply having listened to priests, brothers and nuns in the 70s has convinced me of that!)

Not too long ago I attended a funeral Mass in a Catholic Church for a deceased practicing Catholic whose surviving spouse and daughter, who were present, are practicing Catholics. With the logic reflected in the quote above, the priest, inter alia, instructed the congregation to sit during the Eucharistic Prayer and led the Our Father in the usual Protestant manner. The only people confused were the Catholics. The only people made unwelcome were Catholics who saw the Mass adulterated in a misplaced effort to be welcoming by an unauthorized arrogance in changing the Mass texts and rubrics.

It really is time to stop being ashamed of Catholicism, to once again say Catholic prayers in Catholic settings, to assert and be proud of our faith. Believe it or not, non-Catholics expect a Catholic service for deceased Catholics. Catholics should, too!

:clapping::clapping: Nobody better give me a non-denominational funeral or I’ll come back to haunt them, I really will!!!

 

[a83192]

thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut