Have you ever been to a Catholic funeral? What is it like?

[Alex_H]

Hello,

I was curious as to what a Catholic funeral is like, as I have never been to one.

I was able to see a little bit of Antonin Scalia’s funeral because it was on TV. Same with Beau Biden. I did not get to see the whole thing, however, because I had to leave the house before the funeral was over.

So what is a Catholic funeral like? Is it always held in a church? Or can it be held at other places, such as a funeral home, or graveside?

Is it considered a mass? Like, is communion served at the funeral? What kind of vestments does the priest wear during a funeral?

I know at Antonin Scalia’s funeral they brought the casket down the center aisle. I believe they then placed it in front of the altar, though I may not be remembering it correctly.

I was just wondering. My mom recently passed away but she was not Catholic. Her service was held at a funeral home and was presided over by a Methodist minister.

My great grandmother died a while back, and she requested a graveside service. So we just drove to the cemetery, where the preacher gave a quick fifteen minute sermon about her life and we placed roses on her casket.

Thanks for any info.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Justice Scalia’s funeral was very beautiful. His son, Father Paul Scalia, was celebrant:

C-Span video:
c-span.org/video/?404962-1/justice-antonin-scalia-funeral-mass

Rev. Paul Scalia:

WE ARE GATHERED HERE BECAUSE OF ONE MAN. A MAN KNOWN PERSONALLY TO MANY OF US, KNOWN ONLY BY REPUTATION TO EVEN MORE. A MAN LOVED BY MANY, SCORNED BY OTHERS. A MAN KNOWN FOR GREAT CONTROVERSY AND FOR GREAT COMPASSION. THAT MAN, OF COURSE, IS JESUS OF NAZARETH.

A Catholic funeral liturgy usually takes place in a Church. It usually includes the Catholic Mass, although not always.

From the US Catholic Bishops:

usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/bereavement-and-funerals/overview-of-catholic-funeral-rites.cfm

An Overview of Catholic Funeral Rites

“At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun in the waters of Baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end, nor does it break the bonds forged in life. The Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in the funeral rites with the comforting Word of God and the Sacrament of the Eucharist.”
(Order of Christian Funerals, no. 4)

The Catholic funeral rite is divided into several stations, or parts, each with its own purpose. For this reason we recommend following the complete structure and making use of each station.
Vigil Service (Wake)

“At the vigil, the Christian community keeps watch with the family in prayer to the God of mercy and finds strength in Christ’s presence” (Order of Christian Funerals, no. 56). The Vigil Service usually takes place during the period of visitation and viewing at the funeral home. It is a time to remember the life of the deceased and to commend him/her to God. In prayer we ask God to console us in our grief and give us strength to support one another.

The Vigil Service can take the form of a Service of the Word with readings from Sacred Scripture accompanied by reflection and prayers. It can also take the form of one of the prayers of the Office for the Dead from the Liturgy of the Hours. The clergy and your funeral director can assist in planning such service.

It is most appropriate, when family and friends are gathered together for visitation, to offer time for recalling the life of the deceased. For this reason, eulogies are usually encouraged to be done at the funeral home during visitation or at the Vigil Service.
Funeral Liturgy

The funeral liturgy is the central liturgical celebration of the Christian community for the deceased. When one of its members dies, the Church encourages the celebration of the funeral liturgy at a Mass. When Mass cannot be celebrated, a funeral liturgy outside Mass can be celebrated at the church or in the funeral home.

At the funeral liturgy, the Church gathers with the family and friends of the deceased to give praise and thanks to God for Christ’s victory over sin and death, to commend the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion, and to seek strength in the proclamation of the Paschal Mystery. The funeral liturgy, therefore, is an act of worship, and not merely an expression of grief.
Rite of Committal (Burial or Interment)

The Rite of Committal, the conclusion of the funeral rite, is the final act of the community of faith in caring for the body of its deceased member. It should normally be celebrated at the place of committal, that is, beside the open grave or place of interment. In committing the body to its resting place, the community expresses the hope that, with all those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, the deceased awaits the glory of the resurrection. The Rite of Committal is an expression of the communion that exists between the Church on earth and the Church in heaven: the deceased passes with the farewell prayers of the community of believers into the welcoming company of those who need faith no longer, but see God face-to-face.

 

[Disciple_Leader]

Hi Alex,
At a funeral Mass the priest wears white vestments. The celebration starts at the back of the church where the casket is covered with a white pall (cloth). The body is then brought down the center aisle and placed in front of the altar with the Easter candle at the front. The funeral Liturgy follows the same format as a normal Mass but the readings and some prayers are exclusive to this Mass. The priest will also use incense during the Mass. Final commitment takes place at the cemetery. It’s a beautiful celebration of life. Hope this helps you. God Bless!

 

[john_ennis]

The whole funeral Mass is a prayer for the sake of the deceased. The Mass is the most powerful prayer we have, so this is a great thing. Its structure is a reminder of what the Church believes about death and salvation, so you don’t typically have a eulogy declaring the virtues of the deceased, certainly not one which seems to declare that he or she is already saved and in heaven. That would be the wrong emphasis.
Scalia’s was a great example.

 

[Alex_H]

Thank you very much, all. I just found a video of Scalia’s funeral on youtube. I will watch it later, since it is close to four hours long.

 

[Rosebud77]

Here in Ireland I have been to several funerals of Nuns I knew and Friars. All dear friends.

Funerals in Ireland are big events. The number of cars following the hearse is a sign of your status. Sometimes they have to get traffic control in from the Gardai.

Open coffins are the norm

And yes Mass… In many towns now the funerals are at daily mass as we have few priests. It becomes very impersonal. ( I avoid these family occasions)

The funerals of religious are overwleming as the whole local community and further afield comes. The crowd spills out onto the garden or street and always the Bishop and several priests… I was never very close to the main service.

Lovely ceremony near the end with the water and candles. Dear ones i had known years.

 

[GEddie]

The funeral Mass is held in Church. There are final prayers held at the graveside.

As others have said, it is a prayer for the “soul of the deceased.”

ICXC NIKA

 

[edward_george]

Hi Alex,
At a funeral Mass the priest wears white vestments.

There also exists the option to wear black or violet vestments. All three have symbolism which accords with the Christian view of death. Black is a color of sorrow and mourning, and reminds us that Christ mourns along with us, just as he mourned the death of his friend Lazarus. Violet is a penitential color, reminding us of the need to pray for the mercy of God for the forgiveness of sins of the one who has passed from this life. White is the color of the Resurrection, and thus reminds us of the hope held in store for us in the life to come.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[newcalling]

Thank you for asking. I am in formation with the Secular Franciscan order, and one of the brothers who I admired greatly just passed away Sunday morning. I would like to attend his funeral mass if I can. I have been to a funeral mass, but it was decades ago and I wasn’t Catholic back then. I don’t remember the mass itself.

 

[1ke]

There are three parts to the Catholic funeral liturgy:

The Vigil
The Funeral (with or without Mass)
The Rite Committal

A funeral, like a wedding, can take place inside or outside the Mass.

A priest or deacon may conduct any of the rites (obviously, deacon would be funeral outside Mass). A lay person can conduct the Vigil and Committal, if necessary.

The Order of Christian Funerals allows for the Vigil to take place in one of several locations such as the funeral home, the home of the deceased, a nursing home, the church, etc.

The proper place for the Funeral liturgy is in a Catholic Church. The funeral liturgy requires the body (or ashes). Absent that, the Funeral liturgy is not used and instead it is a Memorial Mass.

The Committal is at the graveside, but can take place in the church (for example during inclement weather).

 

[Kielbasi]

The Committal is at the graveside, but can take place in the church (for example during inclement weather).

That is not necessarily true.

The most recent funerals I’ve attended- in two different dioceses BTW- the cemetery ceremony was held in the cemetery chapel or outbuilding, and the mourners did not go to the grave site at all.

Both were during excellent weather.

 

[1ke]

That is not necessarily true.

The most recent funerals I’ve attended- in two different dioceses BTW- the cemetery ceremony was held in the cemetery chapel or outbuilding, and the mourners did not go to the grave site at all.

Both were during excellent weather.

The preference is the committal takes place graveside.

It can take place in the church, at the graveside or a combo.

 

[Saints_Alive]

Mass for the priest killed in France.

newliturgicalmovement.org/2016/07/an-ef-requiem-mass-for-fr-jacques-hamel.html?m=1

m.facebook.com/Fraternidad-de-San-José-Custodio-165373886850022/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1032762603444475

 

[DAML72]

They are beautiful - even the simpler ones. You could always attend one to find out - funerals are public affairs.

 

[meltzerboy]

There are three parts to the Catholic funeral liturgy:

The Vigil
The Funeral (with or without Mass)
The Rite Committal

A funeral, like a wedding, can take place inside or outside the Mass.

A priest or deacon may conduct any of the rites (obviously, deacon would be funeral outside Mass). A lay person can conduct the Vigil and Committal, if necessary.

The Order of Christian Funerals allows for the Vigil to take place in one of several locations such as the funeral home, the home of the deceased, a nursing home, the church, etc.

The proper place for the Funeral liturgy is in a Catholic Church. The funeral liturgy requires the body (or ashes). Absent that, the Funeral liturgy is not used and instead it is a Memorial Mass.

The Committal is at the graveside, but can take place in the church (for example during inclement weather).

When would a Mass not be celebrated?

To the OP: I went to only one Catholic funeral, including all the rituals and the Mass. I’ve been to more Jewish funerals than I care to remember.

 

[pianistclare]

Sometimes the surviving family want a priest to do the funeral because of the wishes of the deceased, but they also realize that no one in the extended family or friends are Catholic and prefer something more familiar to them.

Funerals are always on weekdays here, never ever on a Sunday.
We usually have a receptions sponsored by the parish after the interment.

Catholic funerals for me, are a much more hopeful and peaceful experience than some of the Baptist ones I have been to, where there was quite of a bit of feeling of despair and wailing going on. The major tears happen around here at the Funeral home when we pray the rosary. By the morning of the funeral Mass, people are resigned and praying fro the happy repose of the soul of their beloved.

I don’t mind funerals. Sometimes our pastor gets choked up, and that’s hard though. Nice to see priest who know much about their flock.

 

[GEddie]

If for emergency or other reasons, a burial is needed when a Mass cannot be said (during the Holy Triduum; or else if a priest is just not available), then a funeral can be held without a Mass.

Otherwise, I don’t fully know.

ICXC NIKA

 

[corsair]

A comment here should be made that “white vestments” are used in the Ordinary Form of the Mass. “Black vestments” are used in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. The term “Requiem Mass” is used in the EF and there are many things that are different.

 

[DeniseNY]

That is not necessarily true.

The most recent funerals I’ve attended- in two different dioceses BTW- the cemetery ceremony was held in the cemetery chapel or outbuilding, and the mourners did not go to the grave site at all.

Both were during excellent weather.

I’ve experienced both.

My grandfather’s committal was in the cemetery chapel (it was late December and subzero).

My mother’s was graveside (early September).

Same cemetery

 

[edward_george]

A comment here should be made that “white vestments” are used in the Ordinary Form of the Mass. “Black vestments” are used in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. The term “Requiem Mass” is used in the EF and there are many things that are different.

White vestments exist as an option, alongside violet and black, for funeral and memorial Masses in the Ordinary Form. Black vestments are always worn in funeral and memorial Masses in the Extraordinary Form. Requiem Mass refers to either the funeral or the memorial Mass, and could technically refer to either form; the name is taken from the Introit of the Mass, “Requiem aeternam.”

-Fr. ACEGC