Funeral honor guard?

[Bruised_Reed]

I stumbled upon this page and wanted to get other’s thoughts.

From the link:

A white flag with a red cross and the nurse’s name embroidered on it is placed at the head of the casket. Honorary pallbearers attend the visitation and funeral services and wear traditional white nursing uniforms and the familiar blue and red capes. They enter the chapel in single file with the left wing of their capes folded back showing their nametags with a black ribbon attached. During the services, one of the pallbearers addresses the congregation and shares memories of the nurse’s time on duty.

and

the honorary pallbearers stand watch as the casket is put into the hearse. At the grave site, a Nightingale lamp is lit in the nurse’s honor. After the chaplain’s prayers, the nurse’s name is requested to report to duty. When there is no response, the nurse’s name and license number are called out twice more with the same request. After the third and final call, the nurse’s license number is announced as being retired and the lamp’s flame is extinguished. The white flag with the red cross is folded and presented to the family as a token of appreciation for the nurse’s devotion to the profession. The left wings of the pallbearers’ capes are then draped forward covering their nametags as they walk silently away from the grave site.

Is this a good thing or is it sort of pretentious?

Would it be okay at a Catholic funeral?

Does a Catholic have to have a funeral?

 

[benedictgal]

I stumbled upon this page and wanted to get other’s thoughts.

From the link:and

Is this a good thing or is it sort of pretentious?

Would it be okay at a Catholic funeral?

Does a Catholic have to have a funeral?

When a member of the Knights of Columbus dies, if he was a member of the Fourth Degree (the ones who wear the plumes and have the swords), an honor guard is present during the Vigil of the Deceased. During the actual funeral Mass, the Fourth Degree accompany the body from the hearse to the Church and then, after the Mass, from the Church to the hearse.

Of course, they also do this in the event of the death of a bishop or priest (especially if the clergy were Fourth Degree Knights).

For obvious reasons, the military may have an honor guard if the deceased served in the armed services (especially, if, unfortunately, he died in combat). Elected officials also have an honor guard. But, these are secular practices that normally take place before and after the Vigil for the Deceased.

A Catholic should have a funeral. There are circumstances when a funeral Mass is not allowed (Paschal Triduum) and there are other instances where the deacon will preside over the service (especially in parishes that don’t have a pastor, or, if a priest is unavailable). Normally, unless the Catholic has been known to be a public sinner or chose to excommunicate himself from the Church, he shouldn’t be denied a Christian burial.

 

[Phemie]

I stumbled upon this page and wanted to get other’s thoughts.

From the link:and

Is this a good thing or is it sort of pretentious?

Would it be okay at a Catholic funeral?

Does a Catholic have to have a funeral?

To me this is obviously a service in the hospital chapel where the nurse worked. I would see nothing wrong with a vigil service that would include these things at the end of it in that location. I certainly wouldn’t see this at a Catholic funeral.

I do see another problem though – when’s the last time you saw a nurse in a traditional uniform? As for the cape, that was gone when I graduated from nursing in 1975.

 

[benedictgal]

To me this is obviously a service in the hospital chapel where the nurse worked. I would see nothing wrong with a vigil service that would include these things at the end of it in that location. I certainly wouldn’t see this at a Catholic funeral.

You are right, not to mention the fact that whatever words would be spoken should be saved for the Vigil of the Deceased and not during the funeral Mass (which I forgot–oh well, it’s 100-degrees in Laredo, today, so my brain is fried).

Now, they could do this before the actual Vigil of the Deceased takes place. The local Catholic Daughters Court usually has their own Rosary and service before the Vigil begins. They all file in wearing white dresses/suits and then begin to pray the Rosary. They have their own prayers and whatnaught and then will often stay for the Vigil. The Knights of Columbus also do their own thing, but, that, too, is apart from the Vigil.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I stumbled upon this page and wanted to get other’s thoughts.

From the link:and

Is this a good thing or is it sort of pretentious?

Would it be okay at a Catholic funeral?

Does a Catholic have to have a funeral?

It seems to be written without any Catholic funeral requirements in mind. This ceremony could take place at the funeral home before leaving for the funeral at the church. The grave side service could be done after the Catholic rites or before the Catholic Rites.

This is similar to the ceremony for fire fighters and police officers.

Yes, a Catholic would want the Rites of Christian burial.