Observations and questions about Justice Scalia's funeral mass

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Today I watched most of Justice Scalia’s funeral mass on TV because I really liked him and consider myself to be a pretty conservative evangelical Christian. I admired him and liked his personality and feistiness. I was also touched that his son was the main priest who officiated. I thought it was outstanding overall and I watched attentively. I also enjoyed the story about the time Justice Scalia was in church and was standing in line at confession only to discover he was in his own son’s line. Then he was reported to have said something to effect, “To heck if I’m going to confess to my own son”. 🙂

**A few questions about some things I heard at the funeral that I was hoping someone could clarify for me. **
  1. How typical was the content of his funeral mass compared to a typical Catholic’s funeral mass? Was it exactly the same or were there certain things that were added or omitted from a normal Catholic funeral because it was such an important person?
  2. At one point, the priest (it might have been Fr Scalia) mentioned indulgences and I was not familiar with that. What roles do indulgences play at a Catholic funeral or after a Catholic passes away?
  3. At one point, Justice Scalia’s son prayed something to the effect, “*Cleanse him of his sins and grant him the fullness of your redemption”. *
    Can someone help interpret this for this protestant lad? For example, he died a week before the funeral. In my faith tradition, when one’s body dies, you immediately go to the judgment seat of Christ to be judged. Isn’t it too late to be asking for these things at this stage since he presumably is already in heaven? Or is it a prayer that might presume he is in purgatory?
Sorry for my lack of understanding on these issues. I know a little about the concept of purgatory but not indulgences.

Thanks in advance for your help in better understanding these things.
 
I did not watch the funeral on television so I can’t speak to the specifics but I will offer what I can.
Tommy999 said:
**A few questions about some things I heard at the funeral that I was hoping someone could clarify for me. **
  1. How typical was the content of his funeral mass compared to a typical Catholic’s funeral mass? Was it exactly the same or were there certain things that were added or omitted from a normal Catholic funeral because it was such an important person?
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As I stated earlier, I did not see his funeral but my guess is that it was fairly usual. Since he was a well know figure it is possible that Fr. Scalia may have offered a few comments to explained what was happening. Rather than have a eulogy, Catholic funerals are supposed to incorporate any memories of the person into the homily (which only a priest or deacon can lawfully deliver.) In practice, this rule is often violated but I’ll bet it was spot on today.
Tommy999 said:
  1. At one point, the priest (it might have been Fr Scalia) mentioned indulgences and I was not familiar with that. What roles do indulgences play at a Catholic funeral or after a Catholic passes away?
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I’m going to include comments on this when I address question 3.
Tommy999 said:
  1. At one point, Justice Scalia’s son prayed something to the effect, “*Cleanse him of his sins and grant him the fullness of your redemption”. *
    Can someone help interpret this for this protestant lad? For example, he died a week before the funeral. In my faith tradition, when one’s body dies, you immediately go to the judgment seat of Christ to be judged. Isn’t it too late to be asking for these things at this stage since he presumably is already in heaven? Or is it a prayer that might presume he is in purgatory?
Click to expand...
Catholics do not (or are not supposed to) presume salvation for someone who died as a baptized adult until such time as that person begins the process of being declared a saint. But we do believe our prayers on behalf of the salvation of another mean something and are heard by God outside of time. So while there are no guarantees that our prayers will result in the salvation of another, neither is there is such a thing as “too late”.
We think that the Mass (and any other liturgy) is a powerful prayer and that it may be offered for the salvation of those living or dead. We also believe that praying for the salvation of the dead will be remembered towards our own salvation. It is common to think of purgatory as a “place” but it is better referred to as a “state of being made pure”.
 
Great thread!

I had a question about the contents of the bowls brought forward to Fr Scalia by the family. They were smaller brass/gold bowls, six of them brought forward, then handed off to Fr Scalia to be placed on the altar; what was in them?
 
Tommy999 said:
Today I watched most of Justice Scalia’s funeral mass on TV because I really liked him and consider myself to be a pretty conservative evangelical Christian. I admired him and liked his personality and feistiness. I was also touched that his son was the main priest who officiated. I thought it was outstanding overall and I watched attentively. I also enjoyed the story about the time Justice Scalia was in church and was standing in line at confession only to discover he was in his own son’s line. Then he was reported to have said something to effect, “To heck if I’m going to confess to my own son”. 🙂

**A few questions about some things I heard at the funeral that I was hoping someone could clarify for me. **
  1. How typical was the content of his funeral mass compared to a typical Catholic’s funeral mass? Was it exactly the same or were there certain things that were added or omitted from a normal Catholic funeral because it was such an important person?
  2. At one point, the priest (it might have been Fr Scalia) mentioned indulgences and I was not familiar with that. What roles do indulgences play at a Catholic funeral or after a Catholic passes away?
  3. At one point, Justice Scalia’s son prayed something to the effect, “*Cleanse him of his sins and grant him the fullness of your redemption”. *
    Can someone help interpret this for this protestant lad? For example, he died a week before the funeral. In my faith tradition, when one’s body dies, you immediately go to the judgment seat of Christ to be judged. Isn’t it too late to be asking for these things at this stage since he presumably is already in heaven? Or is it a prayer that might presume he is in purgatory?
Sorry for my lack of understanding on these issues. I know a little about the concept of purgatory but not indulgences.

Thanks in advance for your help in better understanding these things.
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  1. From what I know this was a typical Catholic funeral Mass. Nothing special just because he was a Supreme Court Justice.
  2. I didn’t hear where indulgences were mentioned and I have never heard them mentioned at any Catholic funeral Mass before.
  3. We believe in praying for the souls of the departed - just in case as prayers certainly can not hurt. This notwithstanding the fact that since Justice Scalia was a believing Christian. he certainly has Jesus on his side when it comes to any judgement.
 
Kliska said:
Great thread!

I had a question about the contents of the bowls brought forward to Fr Scalia by the family. They were smaller brass/gold bowls, six of them brought forward, then handed off to Fr Scalia to be placed on the altar; what was in them?
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They are called ciboria (singular “ciborium”). They hold the bread that will be consecrated at Mass. As Catholics, we believe that this bread becomes the Body and Blood of Christ. For this reason, we don’t just put it in an ordinary bowl. Ciboria are usually at least plated in a precious metal (usually gold, silver, or brass).
 
Indulgences were mentioned because of the Holy Doors which everyone passed through.

I think the scale and setting of the Mass was part of the effect, and reason for the questions (I had similar ones); it was held in the largest Cathedral in the US and had many many priests in attendance as well as high profile mourners and a full choir/pipe organ, etc… I was curious as to the similarities and differences between this Mass and one done in a small parish. Was it all the exact same except for scale?
 
buc_fan33 said:
They are called ciboria (singular “ciborium”). They hold the bread that will be consecrated at Mass. As Catholics, we believe that this bread becomes the Body and Blood of Christ. For this reason, we don’t just put it in an ordinary bowl. Ciboria are usually at least plated in a precious metal (usually gold, silver, or brass).
Click to expand...
Thank you, I thought that may be what they were! I just had never seen the family carry them forward before… but I’m assuming it was family I guess I don’t know for sure.
 
Kliska said:
Indulgences were mentioned because of the Holy Doors which everyone passed through.

I think the scale and setting of the Mass was part of the effect, and reason for the questions (I had similar ones); it was held in the largest Cathedral in the US and had many many priests in attendance as well as high profile mourners and a full choir/pipe organ, etc… I was curious as to the similarities and differences between this Mass and one done in a small parish. Was it all the exact same except for scale?
Click to expand...
Pretty much. I had something come up, so I had to quit watching at the offertory, but up to that point, it was exactly the same. I’d be surprised if it was at all different after that point. It’s actually quite a beautiful witness, really. I was reflecting on this today. Here, you have a man who, by any measure of the world, was very successful, rising to the absolute top of his profession. Yet, his casket was draped in the same pall as we all will have at our own funeral one day. The same prayers were said for him as would be said for a poor beggar who died on the street with no fanfare whatsoever. The reason? Before God, we are all beggars. It matters not whether we are successful by the standards of the world, but rather if we are successful by the standards of God. Did we know Him in this life? Did we love and serve others? Were we faithful? Scalia goes to the Lord with absolutely nothing save the grace he was open to in this life and the good works he did as a response to this grace.

FWIW, I absolutely thought Fr. Scalia hit a down by three, bottom of the ninth, walk-off grand slam with his homily.
 
Kliska said:
Thank you, I thought that may be what they were! I just had never seen the family carry them forward before… but I’m assuming it was family I guess I don’t know for sure.
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As a priest, I usually give the family the option to bring the gifts up at the offertory. Some families want to, some want someone else to do it. Some just want things as simple as possible, so in those cases, I already have the bread and wine in the sanctuary on a small table near the altar called a credence table.
 
buc_fan33 said:
Pretty much. I had something come up, so I had to quit watching at the offertory, but up to that point, it was exactly the same. I’d be surprised if it was at all different after that point. It’s actually quite a beautiful witness, really. I was reflecting on this today. Here, you have a man who, by any measure of the world, was very successful, rising to the absolute top of his profession. Yet, his casket was draped in the same pall as we all will have at our own funeral one day. The same prayers were said for him as would be said for a poor beggar who died on the street with no fanfare whatsoever. The reason? Before God, we are all beggars. It matters not whether we are successful by the standards of the world, but rather if we are successful by the standards of God. Did we know Him in this life? Did we love and serve others? Were we faithful? Scalia goes to the Lord with absolutely nothing save the grace he was open to in this life and the good works he did as a response to this grace.

FWIW, I absolutely thought Fr. Scalia his a down by three, bottom of the ninth, walk-off grand slam with his homily.
Click to expand...
buc_fan33 said:
As a priest, I usually give the family the option to bring the gifts up at the offertory. Some families want to, some want someone else to do it. Some just want things as simple as possible, so in those cases, I already have the bread and wine in the sanctuary on a small table near the altar called a credence table.
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👍 Thank you!
 
Kliska said:
Thank you, I thought that may be what they were! I just had never seen the family carry them forward before… but I’m assuming it was family I guess I don’t know for sure.
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It’s very common at Funeral Masses for some of the relatives to bring up the offertory gifts. It’s often the grandchildren if the deceased is an older parishioner.
 
Thanks to Adonia, buc_fan33 (or should I say, Father), and Corki for your answers of clarification and to Kliska for asking some really good follow up questions, some of which I also had.
 
ProVobis said:
To those (like me) who are bothered by the fact that the funeral Mass wasn’t in the rite he normally attended, Fr. Z suggests strongly to make known your own funeral intentions in your will.

wdtprs.com/blog/2016/02/fr-scalias-sermon-at-justice-scalias-mass-death-and-your-funeral-plans
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Funerals typically take place within a week (at the most) of death and often the will won’t be read until after this time meaning that your intentions won’t be known until it’s too late. A more effective way would simply be to make your wishes known to your family and priest.
 
ProVobis said:
To those (like me) who are bothered by the fact that the funeral Mass wasn’t in the rite he normally attended, Fr. Z suggests strongly to make known your own funeral intentions in your will.

wdtprs.com/blog/2016/02/fr-scalias-sermon-at-justice-scalias-mass-death-and-your-funeral-plans
Click to expand...
I don’t think that Justice Scalia was the type to leave his affairs at loose ends. His funeral was planned by those who knew him best and loved him. I assume that they knew and respected his wishes.
 
InThePew said:
Funerals typically take place within a week (at the most) of death and often the will won’t be read until after this time meaning that your intentions won’t be known until it’s too late. A more effective way would simply be to make your wishes known to your family and priest.
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I don’t think it’s that simple. My mother made her wishes known to my dad, who told us right after she died (suddenly, if I may add) that she expressed the wish to be cremated. My brother and I did not take that seriously. Had she left something in writing, she had a safe deposit box, perhaps that would have saved us a lot of unnecessary squabbling. Everyone doesn’t interpret “wishes” the same way.

But your point about not including it in the will is well-taken.

.
 
ProVobis said:
I don’t think it’s that simple. My mother made her wishes known to my dad, who told us right after she died (suddenly, if I may add) that she expressed the wish to be cremated. My brother and I did not take that seriously. Had she left something in writing, she had a safe deposit box, perhaps that would have saved us a lot of unnecessary squabbling. Everyone doesn’t interpret “wishes” the same way.

But your point about not including it in the will is well-taken.

.
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DO NOT “PUT IT IN THE WILL” – THE WILL WON’T BE SEEN UNTIL AFTER THE FUNERAL.

You can make arrangements for burial/cremation with whatever funeral home you prefer, and they will give you documents that you can copy and give to your immediate family so they will know THIS is what you want done.

It may also be possible to make arrangements with your parish church – I’d check with the parish office or your priest.
 
ProVobis said:
To those (like me) who are bothered by the fact that the funeral Mass wasn’t in the rite he normally attended, Fr. Z suggests strongly to make known your own funeral intentions in your will.

wdtprs.com/blog/2016/02/fr-scalias-sermon-at-justice-scalias-mass-death-and-your-funeral-plans
Click to expand...
Perhaps Justice Scalia and/or Fr. Scalia felt that an OF funeral liturgy would be more accessible to - and thus a more effective witness and teaching moment for - the many who would be watching on television, Catholics who have only experienced the OF, and non-Catholics alike.
 
What are the different “types” of funeral liturgies? What would have been the difference?
 
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