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JanetMCA
Guest
Can you tell me if the rosary is still said the night before a Catholic funeral? I have been told that saying the rosary at the “wake” is no longer done.
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puzzleannie
Guest
depends on the wishes of the family, and what is offered by the parish. there is a wake service, which by the way is very beautiful, which can be done at the funeral home during the visitation hours. Some parishes do specify that if the priest or deacon comes, that is the service he will do. If the family wishes to have a rosary also, before or after, or on another evening they are certainly free to do so, merely needing to find someone to lead it.
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baltobetsy
Guest
In our area of the East Coast, if the deceased was a member of the Knights of Columbus, a group of Knights come to the wake and lead the Rosary. It’s the most touching thing ever to see these gentlemen who appear to be regular, hard-working guys by day, put on a suit and tie and go to the funeral home and pray.
The wake service itself does not include the Rosary, but I’m sure you could request it.
Betsy
The wake service itself does not include the Rosary, but I’m sure you could request it.
Betsy
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canne
Guest
Every Catholic funeral I have attended always has had a rosary service the evening before the Mass and burial. Usually it has been at the Chapel of the funeral home lead by the Priest or a Nun. This has been my experience, I live in CA.
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Phemie
Guest
It’s true that the Funeral Vigil doesn’t include the rosary but, if the family wishes, anyone can lead the rosary at any time at a Catholic wake.
In our community the Funeral Vigil is a ‘new thing’, and something that not every family is interested in. But most want the rosary. Personally, I find the Funeral Vigil absolutely beautiful and prefer it to the way the rosary is usually mumbled without much thought at wakes.
In our community the Funeral Vigil is a ‘new thing’, and something that not every family is interested in. But most want the rosary. Personally, I find the Funeral Vigil absolutely beautiful and prefer it to the way the rosary is usually mumbled without much thought at wakes.
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puzzleannie
Guest
it is strongly recommended that if all or most of the guests at the vigil service will be non-Catholic you consider asking for the Funeral Vigil, which is essentially a liturgy of the Word and prayers. this will sound less “foreign” to guests than the rosary, which can still be prayed when the Catholic contingent is gathered, or before or after the service. please at least look at the order of the service before deciding, it really is quite beautiful and incorporates Catholic teaching on death, mourning, the resurrection etc.
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Chatter163
Guest
It does seem in some places that we are more worried about sins against ecumenism than we are the Catholic traditions of certain families, parishes, ethnic groups or cultures. Either service at the funeral home is appropriate, and I for one believe that the family’s wishes should prevail.
When there is no funeral Mass to be celebrated, I can see the value of the Liturgy of the Word at the funeral home. But when the funeral Mass is to take place a day or two later, it seems almost redundant to have what is, for all intents and purposes, a mini-funeral liturgy. A different type of prayer might be in order here, and especially in the cases of more traditionally-minded Catholics, one more in keeping with their Catholic practice.
When there is no funeral Mass to be celebrated, I can see the value of the Liturgy of the Word at the funeral home. But when the funeral Mass is to take place a day or two later, it seems almost redundant to have what is, for all intents and purposes, a mini-funeral liturgy. A different type of prayer might be in order here, and especially in the cases of more traditionally-minded Catholics, one more in keeping with their Catholic practice.
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lak611
Guest
From my experiences here in Cleveland at recent Catholic funerals, the Rosary is not said unless the deceased was a member of the Ladies’ Guild, KofC, SVDP, Holy Name Society. The people from the organizations/fraternities come to lead it. I have never seen it led by a priest. I have also never seen the priest lead a liturgy of the word at a wake. The priest usually just says a few brief prayers and talks with the family of the deceased.
The only longer prayer services I have seen led by priests were those who are Eastern Catholic or Orthodox. They have the Trisagion, Parastas, or Pomen service at the wake.
The only longer prayer services I have seen led by priests were those who are Eastern Catholic or Orthodox. They have the Trisagion, Parastas, or Pomen service at the wake.
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Phemie
Guest
Redundant?? Listening to the word of God is redundant?
The Vigil is one of the most soothing, helpful liturgies I’ve ever attended. With hymns, readings, psalm, eulogy and, at the end, messages & remembrances from family and friends. There is nothing that precludes having the rosary immediately before or after. I only wish we’d been given the option of the vigil when Dad died. The priest showed up unexpectedly and did a reading and a few prayers but not too many people were there.
The Vigil is one of the most soothing, helpful liturgies I’ve ever attended. With hymns, readings, psalm, eulogy and, at the end, messages & remembrances from family and friends. There is nothing that precludes having the rosary immediately before or after. I only wish we’d been given the option of the vigil when Dad died. The priest showed up unexpectedly and did a reading and a few prayers but not too many people were there.
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lak611
Guest
I have never seen this service at any Catholic funeral in my city.
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JanetMCA
Guest
Interesting that you said you have never see the rosary led by a priest. I attended many Catholic funerals during the 70s and 80s. All were preceded by the rosary led by the priest the night before the funeral. I haven’t attended a Catholic funeral since then and was wondering if anything has changed. It sounds to me like it is up to what the family wants when it comes to the rosary.
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Joe_Kelley
Guest
Someplace, and I can’t find it now, there are directions for a liturgical wake. As I recall the options are LOTH, usually Evening Prayer, for the Dead; a Liturgy of the Word, which as noted tends to duplicate the funeral mass; and maybe one other option which I don’t remember. The Rosary is not a part of the official/liturgical wake. Effort is being made to educate the people on this.
That being said: At least 90% of the wakes I have participated in * are the Rosary as requested by the family. That is not the time to educate people on the liturgy. I did add an appropriate reading, from the Lectionary for Funeral Masses, at the beginning of each decade, and used the Glorious Mysteries. ***
That being said: At least 90% of the wakes I have participated in * are the Rosary as requested by the family. That is not the time to educate people on the liturgy. I did add an appropriate reading, from the Lectionary for Funeral Masses, at the beginning of each decade, and used the Glorious Mysteries. ***
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Phemie
Guest
The Order of Christian Funerals contains all the liturgies: the Funeral Vigil, the Funeral Mass & the Rite of Committal.
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Phemie
Guest
When we had a sister of mercy as our pastoral assistant she made sure that every Catholic who died had a proper vigil but I haven’t seen that since she left – other than the occasional one that’s held in the church due to the number of mourners who want to attend. If the deceased was a KofC or the dependent of one the KofC members go to the funeral home for the rosary.
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Orionthehunter
Guest
I agree. These are my instructions to my children:
6:30 p.m. Rosary led by my children
7:00 p.m. Vistitation with the family
7:30 p.m. Funeral Vigil and personal reflections
After Vigil: Party in my favorite pub (not published but everyone will find out about it
)Next Day Funeral Mass with no Eulogy at the end.
Like puzzle says, I hope to give subtle indication to my non-Catholic friends when to come if they want to avoid the most Catholic portions. Too often I’ve observed that unless one is clear, non-Catholics can not only be uncomfortable but distractions during a Rosary. Why have your last temporal act a source of discomfort for my non-Catholic friends? I’ve been making them uncomfortable my whole life.
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lak611
Guest
The last two have always been done, but I have never witnessed the first one.
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cameron_lansing
Guest
I have done a number of these services in the past 18 years. Sometimes the deceased have been very active Catholics, and sometimes rather not. Sometimes their relatives are very active Catholics, and sometimes rather not. Sometimes there is a preference for the Vigil. Sometimes there is a preference for a rosary.
Sometimes that preference for the rosary arises from the devotional prayer life of the deceased and / or the family. Sometimes it is the only thing the family can think of, because they have not been inside a Catholic church in years (and even then, sometimes do not know how to pray the rosary at all).
In any case, the time of their grief is not the time to straighten anyone out one way or the other, but to offer them all the riches the Church makes available for us.
What has always worked for me is to explain why the Church opens up the Word of God and special prayers at this time in the Vigil, and to let them know that I will also be more than happy to also lead them in the Marian Rosary or to invite members of the family to do so.
Nothing prevents both from taking place. Since the Vigil is somewhat similar in format to the evening prayer in the Office for the Deceased, a Marian Rosary would be a suitable Marian antiphon before the conclusion.
Universally, those who had not considered the Vigil are very pleased that one was done, and appreciate it as a sign of the Christian dignity of the deceased for whom the entire Church prays in its official liturgy.
Catholics have the right to the Word of God and to the supplications of the Church’s official liturgy, so this is not something done for ecumenism in the Vigil, but non Catholics also have the opportunity to receive from the wealth of what the Church offers.
Again, since Mother Mary figures so prominently in the death of our Lord, it is quite fitting to ask for her prayer upon the death of a Christian. When her role and the meaning of the Marian Rosary are briefly explained, both Catholics and non Catholics can receive a deeper appreciation of our Mother in the order of grace. Yet this does not need to supplant the Vigil. The bereaved and the deceased will benefit from both.
Still, nothing prevents the kind of plans that Orion laid out. Our family has often done exactly that. or put the rosary on the first night and the Vigil on the second night. Scotch both nights, in proper moderation, and a piper at the funeral.
Sometimes that preference for the rosary arises from the devotional prayer life of the deceased and / or the family. Sometimes it is the only thing the family can think of, because they have not been inside a Catholic church in years (and even then, sometimes do not know how to pray the rosary at all).
In any case, the time of their grief is not the time to straighten anyone out one way or the other, but to offer them all the riches the Church makes available for us.
What has always worked for me is to explain why the Church opens up the Word of God and special prayers at this time in the Vigil, and to let them know that I will also be more than happy to also lead them in the Marian Rosary or to invite members of the family to do so.
Nothing prevents both from taking place. Since the Vigil is somewhat similar in format to the evening prayer in the Office for the Deceased, a Marian Rosary would be a suitable Marian antiphon before the conclusion.
Universally, those who had not considered the Vigil are very pleased that one was done, and appreciate it as a sign of the Christian dignity of the deceased for whom the entire Church prays in its official liturgy.
Catholics have the right to the Word of God and to the supplications of the Church’s official liturgy, so this is not something done for ecumenism in the Vigil, but non Catholics also have the opportunity to receive from the wealth of what the Church offers.
Again, since Mother Mary figures so prominently in the death of our Lord, it is quite fitting to ask for her prayer upon the death of a Christian. When her role and the meaning of the Marian Rosary are briefly explained, both Catholics and non Catholics can receive a deeper appreciation of our Mother in the order of grace. Yet this does not need to supplant the Vigil. The bereaved and the deceased will benefit from both.
Still, nothing prevents the kind of plans that Orion laid out. Our family has often done exactly that. or put the rosary on the first night and the Vigil on the second night. Scotch both nights, in proper moderation, and a piper at the funeral.
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OutinChgoburbs
Guest
Here in the greater Chicago area, it’s both rosary and Vigil no matter how much or how little Catholic, and nobody worries about it.
If the mourners have chosen a funeral home near a tavern or pub, well, that depends on the family.
If the mourners have chosen a funeral home near a tavern or pub, well, that depends on the family.
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Angels_Watchin
Guest
The rosary is about the indulgence - public rosary said under the usual conditions gives a Plenary indulgence - to be offered for the soul of the deceased.
No one teaches indulgences any more!!
No one teaches indulgences any more!!
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Pax_Vobiscum_57
Guest
Actually, the norm is the Vigil service. I agree with Phemie. It’s so consoling. A Rosary may be prayed, and anyone can lead it. I believe the Vigil - with the Gospel - must be celebrated by someone in Holy Orders (priest or deacon).
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