Funeral Liturgy text?

[gez722]

I recently attended a funeral for a close friend and was reminded of how comforting the Catholic Funeral Liturgy is. There is one part in particular (toward the end) where the priest says, “though we leave in sorrow, we’ll look forward to the day when every tear will be wiped away…” (or something to that effect).

Does anyone know the exact wording of that prayer, or better yet, does the text of the funeral liturgy appear anywhere online? I’d really like to read it again.

God Bless,
Gary

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I recently attended a funeral for a close friend and was reminded of how comforting the Catholic Funeral Liturgy is. There is one part in particular (toward the end) where the priest says, “though we leave in sorrow, we’ll look forward to the day when every tear will be wiped away…” (or something to that effect).

Does anyone know the exact wording of that prayer, or better yet, does the text of the funeral liturgy appear anywhere online? I’d really like to read it again.

God Bless,
Gary

“May the love of God and the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ bless and console us and gently wipe every tear from our eyes:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. +
Amen.”

 

[John_Lilburne]

“May the love of God and the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ bless and console us and gently wipe every tear from our eyes:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. +
Amen.”

This prayer is made by a lay minister at the Rite of Committal, at the grave. So I doubt that a priest would have said it. (The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 1002).

Perhaps “every tear will be wiped away” is from an optional part of Eucharistic Prayer III, near the middle of the Mass:

“Remember Luke. In baptism he died with Christ: may he also share his resurrection, when Christ will raise our mortal bodies and make them like his own in glory.
Welcome into your kingdom our departed brothers and sisters, and all who have left this world in your friendship. There we hope to share in your glory when every tear will be wiped away. There we hope to share in your glory when every tear will be wiped away. On that day we shall see you, our God, as you are. We shall become like you and praise you for ever through Christ our Lord, from whom all good things come.
Through him, with him, in him …”
(From The Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 555).

A prayer at the end with “disperse in sorrow” is:
“Trusting in God, we have prayed together for Luke and now we come to the last farewell. There is sadness in parting, but we take comfort in the hope that one day we shall see Luke again and enjoy his friendship. Although this congregation will disperse in sorrow, the mercy of God will gather us together again in the joy of his kingdom. There let us console one another in the faith of Jesus Christ.”
(From Order of Christian Funerals, n. 171(b) in The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 982.)

 

[gelsbern]

Brother Rich had the right prayer.

From “The Roman Ritual Revised by Decree of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Coucil by the Authority of Pope Paul IV - The Order of Christian Funerals - Including Appendix 2: Cremation” Published by Catholic Book Publishing Co. New Jersey 1998

Page 121 from Chapter 5 Rite of Committal Option B of the Prayer over the people and is said by a lay minister.

May the love of God and the peace of the Lord Jesus
Christ
bless and console us
and gently wipe every tear from our eyes:
In the name of the Father,
and of the Sone, and of the Holy Spirit

Here is how it would go in it’s entirety complete with rubrics. (NOTE: the word minister is used because it may be a priest or deacon performing the rite of committal)

Prayer Over The People

223 The assisting minister says:

Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing.

All pray silently. The minister with hands outstretched, prays over the people:

Merciful Lord,
you know the anguish of the sorrowful,
you are attentive to the prayers of the humble.
Hear your people
who cry out to you in their need,
and strengthen their hope in your lasting goodness.
We ask this through Christ our Lord

R. Amen

The minister then says the following:

Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord.

R. And let perpetual light shine upon him/her.

May he/she rest in peace.

R. Amen

May his/her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen

**A **A minister who is a priest or deacon says:
May the peace of God,
which is beyond all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God
and of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

R. Amen

May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

R. Amen

B A lay minister invokes God’s blessing and signs himself or herself with the sign of the cross saying:

May the love of God and the peace of the Lord Jesus
Christ
bless and console us
and gently wipe every tear from our eyes:
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

R. Amen

The minister then concludes:

Go in the peace of Christ.

R. Thanks be to God

A song may conclude the rite. Where it is the custom, some sign or gesture of leave-taking may be made.

 

[gelsbern]

I also found one other prayer. It is in the Section, prayers for the mourners, on page 349. The red bracketed section is optional in the prayer.

1 General

Father of mercies and God of all consolation,
you pursue us with untiring love
and dispel the shadow of death
with the bright dawn of life.

Comfort your family in their loss and sorrow.
Be our refuge and our strength, O Lord,
and lift us up from the depths of grief
in the peace and light of your presence]

Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
by dying has destroyed our death,
and by rising, restored our life.
Enable us therefore to press toward him,
so that, after our earthly course is run,
he may reunite us with those we love,
when every tear will be wiped away.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Note that Revelation 21:1-7 is possible choice for the second reading at the mass. I also use it for Rosary wakes.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 2 I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, 3 coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people 4 and God himself will always be with them (as their God). 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, (for) the old order has passed away.” 5 The one who sat on the throne 5 said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then he said, “Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me, "They are accomplished. 6 I (am) the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. 7 The victor 7 will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.

 

[chicago]

I used to like the remembrance when the priest met the casket (before the rite was revised in the late 80s/early90s) of how “For us life has changed, not ended.”

I miss the Litany of Saints.

 

[gez722]

A prayer at the end with “disperse in sorrow” is:
“Trusting in God, we have prayed together for Luke and now we come to the last farewell. There is sadness in parting, but we take comfort in the hope that one day we shall see Luke again and enjoy his friendship. Although this congregation will disperse in sorrow, the mercy of God will gather us together again in the joy of his kingdom. There let us console one another in the faith of Jesus Christ.”
(From Order of Christian Funerals, n. 171(b) in The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 982.)

John,
That’s exactly the prayer that I was looking for. I find it so comforting! And now that I think of it, the part about the “tear being wiped away” was from the Eucharistic Prayer. My memory isn’t very good sometimes !

Thanks again for your help!!!

God Bless,
Gary

 

[gez722]

I used to like the remembrance when the priest met the casket (before the rite was revised in the late 80s/early90s) of how “For us life has changed, not ended.”

I miss the Litany of Saints.

That is a great thought! As a matter of fact, the priest at this funeral mentioned it in his opening comments.

God Bless,
Gary

 

[gez722]

Thanks to all who relied to this thread. I found all the comments to be extremely helpful. I don’t know how I survived without this message board!!!

God Bless,
Gary