Funeral

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I seem to be the “go to guy” when questions arise about the Byzantine rite, or as they say in the house “eastern rite” even though we have a Syro-Malabar (I believe that is right) Carmelite living with us.

So one of the brothers asked me this. His sister and mother attended an “eastern rite” funeral and they were given candles. They were told that this signified the going out of the 48 disciples.

So a couple of questions;

1. 
   *]Can anyone tell me about the distribution of candles at a funeral?
   *]Can anyone tell me about the sending out of the 48 disciples?
   
   Thanks!

 

[MonkMoses]

I seem to be the “go to guy” when questions arise about the Byzantine rite, or as they say in the house “eastern rite” even though we have a Syro-Malabar (I believe that is right) Carmelite living with us.

So one of the brothers asked me this. His sister and mother attended an “eastern rite” funeral and they were given candles. They were told that this signified the going out of the 48 disciples.

So a couple of questions;

1. 
   *]Can anyone tell me about the distribution of candles at a funeral?
   *]Can anyone tell me about the sending out of the 48 disciples?
   
   Thanks!

1. 
   Ive never heard of the candles representing the sending out of the 48 disciples. I have seen candles held by the congregation as well as the clergy at most Byzantine funerals and panachidas I have attended.

 

[rowlands]

Candles are held as a sign of the light of Christ’s Resurrection, hope, the light of the Kingdom to come, etc.

Not sure about the 48 disciples - the seventy disciples or apostles sent by Jesus (Luke 10?) feature more prominently in the Eastern tradition than in the Western.