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

[Kielbasi]

The term “Requiem Mass” is used in the EF and there are many things that are different.

The term “requiem” of course originated with the traditional Latin mass, but is now an English word as well, and can be now used properly for any funeral mass, or even a non-catholic funeral.

 

[CradleJourney]

Would just like to add that some parishes have a “funeral choir” made up of volunteers who attend the mass, sit (in my experience) in the pews (towards the back or side) and do the most awesome service of singing the hymns and saying the responses along with the family and mourners.

I say most awesome, because in my limited experience, the families, while Catholic, were too emotional, and/or too small, to really be heard in the large church. It was a blessing to feel that our Church (as a whole) was with us as represented by those volunteers and their support by helping participate in the masses was very comforting.

 

[Rosebud77]

Would just like to add that some parishes have a “funeral choir” made up of volunteers who attend the mass, sit (in my experience) in the pews (towards the back or side) and do the most awesome service of singing the hymns and saying the responses along with the family and mourners.

I say most awesome, because in my limited experience, the families, while Catholic, were too emotional, and/or too small, to really be heard in the large church. It was a blessing to feel that our Church (as a whole) was with us as represented by those volunteers and their support by helping participate in the masses was very comforting.

That is fascinating as it seems a continuation of the old Irish practice. Keeners… libraryireland.com/articles/IrishFuneralCryDPJ1-31/

A couple of Irish features also, As well as the long procession of cars. there is the Removal to the Church the night before the funeral… Rosary at the house before that. And funerals are held on Sundays and even one year there were two on Easter Day.

The most prized grave sites here are inside the ruins of ancient abbeys

 

[MissRose73]

My grandmother had a Catholic Funeral Mass. Before the opening hymn and introductory rites, her 2 daughters and their spouses laid the white pall on the closed casket. The priest said some opening prayers and sprinkled the casket then the casket was led down the aisle then the immediate family following it during the opening hymn. The Mass proceeded as normal the rest of the time with the commendation rite thing then the casket was led down the aisle with the priests first then immediate family then the rest of the others who came to Mass. The casket was taken to the hearse and lifted in by 6 male members of the family as she would buried in a different town as her plot was ready next to her late husband.

I have to say the church did a very good job of things for us. We even had 2 young people from the parish serve as altar servers as the Mass. The deacon was present and read the Gospel but the priest gave the homily. My aunt and a cousin read the readings. We had a pianist and a cantor that were also parishioners. The 2 priests and a deacon served as the Communion ministers. Myself, my sister, and a cousin brought up the offertory gifts.

The readings chosen were not typical of a funeral Mass but they reflected my grandmother’s life well as someone was a mother, wife, grandmother, great grandmother and a great-great grandmother plus being a long time volunteer in elementary schools & church work when she was in good health. The gospel about Let the children come to me fit so well. The epistle was the famous one St Paul one about love from 1 Corinthians 13.