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corsair
Guest
I’d like to draw your attention to March 26 entry on Fr. Z’s blog about Eulogies at Funerals and get your thoughts.
wdtprs.com/blog/
wdtprs.com/blog/
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
I think he pretty much nailed the problem–after years of having people who should have known better and who DID know that this was not, and never had been, the policy of the Church to allow eulogies at funerals, but who for whatever reason decided that in THEIR church THEY were going to permit it–you have Catholics who think that they are ENTITLED to have what they want, no matter whether it is against the rules or not.
And to be fair, it is very difficult when for years it has been the practice at a parish to allow this kind of them, for a person to hear when it is HIS (or her) loved one, “It is not the policy of the Church.” They want to say, “Well, how come you let it go for my neighbor but not for me?”
It does just SHOW you that even the best of intentions pave the way to. . .well, you know the saying. I’m sure that the people who went against the rules thought they were doing the best thing. . .and they’re probably long gone by now and don’t have to face the hurt that both sides are feeling. Because I’m sure the bishop and the priests who are just trying to do what they SHOULD do feel hurt just as much as the people who can’t get what they want. They’re not ogres or meanies and they didn’t even cause the problem, but they’re the ones who are bearing the cross now.
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Lormar
Guest
Quite right, Tantum. I know of a priest who is having this difficulty. For decades the parish was run by priests who did their own thing no matter what the Church said. Now, a priest comes in and wants to do the right thing, and I leave it to your imagination as to what he is up against. But thems the breaks, I say.
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SwizzleStick
Guest
"…By the way, if anyone wants to eulogize the dead, the Vigil or, especially, the after-burial gathering are the times to do it; eulogies are not permitted at the traditional Requiem Mass. This seems to enrage many people because it’s a very common thing in Protestant, secular America, and is, sadly, common at Novus Ordo Masses in some dioceses, but eulogies in a church can (and do) lead to serious problems. The very word, “eulogy,” means “high praise” – but what if the deceased wasn’t so wonderful and not so repentant? Should we speak the Truth of the dead by speaking ill of him, or lie, in a church, for the sake of politeness and decorum, thereby endangering souls who hear typical words that intimate the person is most definitely, without a doubt in Heaven, right now, even though they know that he was a philanderer, a cheat, or a thief who may not have repented? Eulogizers are often theologically ignorant, saying things that are simply not consistent with Catholic doctrine or that that lead one to believe that Purgatory and Hell do not exist, etc. In addition, eulogies are often quite personal and quirky, with the deceased having requested in life that secular, sometimes vulgar, music be played to remember them by, and such things as that – things that are best left for the intimacy of a wake or post-burial gathering, not the liturgy, which is always, by definition, for the public and an act of the Church. Most of all, how can we give “high praise” to an unglorified human being when, in a church, we are in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament? Think about this and you will see the Church’s wisdom.
At any rate, a traditional Catholic funeral consists of three main parts: the Vigil (sometimes called the “Wake”), the Requiem Mass, and the Burial and informal after-burial gatherings. Note that the following pertains to funerals for adults; funerals for baptized children who’ve not yet reached the age of reason are quite different and joyful because they, without a doubt, go straight to Heaven, not having had the opportunity to commit a mortal sin. In childrens’ funerals, the priest wears white, the Gloria Patri is not replaced with the Requiem aeternam, the Gloria in excelsis is said, etc. Their Mass is not a Requiem Mass, but a “Votive Mass of the Angels” (or the Mass of the day if a votive Mass is not allowed that particular day). "…
Excerpted from: fisheaters.com/funerals.html
At any rate, a traditional Catholic funeral consists of three main parts: the Vigil (sometimes called the “Wake”), the Requiem Mass, and the Burial and informal after-burial gatherings. Note that the following pertains to funerals for adults; funerals for baptized children who’ve not yet reached the age of reason are quite different and joyful because they, without a doubt, go straight to Heaven, not having had the opportunity to commit a mortal sin. In childrens’ funerals, the priest wears white, the Gloria Patri is not replaced with the Requiem aeternam, the Gloria in excelsis is said, etc. Their Mass is not a Requiem Mass, but a “Votive Mass of the Angels” (or the Mass of the day if a votive Mass is not allowed that particular day). "…
Excerpted from: fisheaters.com/funerals.html
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Peggy_in_Burien
Guest
Corsair,
It was always my understanding that eulogies were NOT to be made at the Mass, but rather, at the end. In some parishes this might be at the end of the Mass, but before the casket leaves the church. In some cases, the eulogy might be made at the graveside, or at the reception afterwards. But never at Mass.
At my dear father’s funeral, in October 2010, my sister gave the eulogy at the end of the Mass.
My mother had said her few words at the end of the Rosary vigil the night before.
It was always my understanding that eulogies were NOT to be made at the Mass, but rather, at the end. In some parishes this might be at the end of the Mass, but before the casket leaves the church. In some cases, the eulogy might be made at the graveside, or at the reception afterwards. But never at Mass.
At my dear father’s funeral, in October 2010, my sister gave the eulogy at the end of the Mass.
My mother had said her few words at the end of the Rosary vigil the night before.
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Joe_Kelley
Guest
A few years back I often served funeral masses. I can only recall one “eulogy” that I thought was worth giving. That was a rather complicated situation. * However, the “eulogy” was one of the best homilies on death I have ever heard. It never mentioned the deceased.
Probably the worst was the eulogist who devoted a bit of time to how the deceased would be pleased that the stock of his former employer had gone up significantly that morning. ***
Probably the worst was the eulogist who devoted a bit of time to how the deceased would be pleased that the stock of his former employer had gone up significantly that morning. ***
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blanc10
Guest
A priest in my family passed away last year. There were many priests and bishops that attended and there were Eulogies. I think they may have been at the end, I’m not sure.
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Catholic90
Guest
At my parish, the eulogies are limited to 2 people speaking for 5 minutes, and they are always at the beginning.
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giuseppeTO
Guest
I went to the funeral of a Jesuit priest which had several eulogies from the Bishop down to the priest’s attorney. All were given in church before Mass began.
I went to the funeral of a friend last fall for the wife of a friend. They had been married for 50 years. The eulogy was given by the husband after Communion but before the end of Mass. The priest also allowed him to go to the piano and play and sing “thanks for the memories”.
I went to the funeral of a friend last fall for the wife of a friend. They had been married for 50 years. The eulogy was given by the husband after Communion but before the end of Mass. The priest also allowed him to go to the piano and play and sing “thanks for the memories”.
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TrueLight
Guest
I have never been to a Catholic funeral. This may sound like a weird request but has anyone seen any footage on youtube?
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TrueLight
Guest
I spoke too fast. I did find footage of Sen. Ted Kennedy’s funeral but I have no idea if it is a traditional funeral or not.
Ted Kennedy’s Funeral
Ted Kennedy’s Funeral
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SwizzleStick
Guest
No, I’ve never seen any footage of a funeral on youtube. I do know that some folks take pictures of the deceased at the wake, but I have never heard of anyone actually filming a funeral and certainly not a Catholic funeral Mass.
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TrueLight
Guest
I found one of a priest:
Rev. L. Dudley Day O.S.A. - Funeral Mass - Oct 6 2010 - Pt. 3
There is so much to learn about Catholicism. You mean after I convert, if something should happen to me, I can’t have the generic protestant funeral?
Rev. L. Dudley Day O.S.A. - Funeral Mass - Oct 6 2010 - Pt. 3
There is so much to learn about Catholicism. You mean after I convert, if something should happen to me, I can’t have the generic protestant funeral?
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Lujack
Guest
Well, of course you could have the generic Protestant funeral…but you’d need to find a Protestant minister to do it. You won’t be able to get a Catholic priest to give you a Protestant funeral, but the Catholic Church won’t hunt you down and prevent you from having your funeral arrangements done as you wish.
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TrueLight
Guest
Touche…
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Phemie
Guest
Good thing:
- Placing of the pall by the family - not sure if flag was removed first.
- At least 2 eulogies with applause after the President’s
- Title of the video “Funeral Celebrates Kennedy’s Life”. A Catholic funeral Mass is not to celebrate anyone’s life, it’s to pray for the deceased.
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Lucky_Scrunchy
Guest
Thank you for our post, but i could not find the article. Could you provide the url address for that particular entry? My father is terminally ill and in case any family members want to do a eulogoy, I want to be prepared.
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archangel04
Guest
that was the worst! That’s the problem with a eulogy said at mass. Too many people are ready to proclaim that the person’s soul is now in heaven regardless of the life they lived.
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zab
Guest
This thread began in March, so the blog is old. Just use the search on the blog page and type in funeral eulogies
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