I’m not going to argue that the OF with a large audience comes across better on TV than the EF. But know that Senator Ted Kennedy’s funeral Mass was also presented in similar fashion. Many others as well. Whether a more private Mass (with the same sermon AND perhaps more comment) would have been more effective I don’t know, but certainly the idea shouldn’t have been dismissed quite as quickly IMO.
If the funeral had been celebrated in the Extraordinary Form, rather than the Ordinary Form, it would have been in Latin, with black vestments, a black pall, and the priest would have faced in the same direction as the congregation rather than facing the congregation.
Thank You!
I’m just wondering why it bothers you and why do you think that the idea of having the Mass offered in the EF was quickly dismissed. Do you have some inner circle knowledge on this or are you just making assumptions?
Spot on. The EF also offers a more solemn form of the Mass, such as a Solemn Requiem or even a Pontifical Requiem Mass, where the bishop is the celebrant. You’re right about the black vestments as well. Even servers wore black collars and black sashes.
Justice Scalia’s love and respect for the Latin Mass are well known; however, he regularly attended Mass in both languages. I saw him often at “Old St. Mary’s” in D.C. where Masses are offered, and always with great reverence, in English and in Latin. He attended both – depending upon his schedule, I suppose. I think it is a stretch to speak of the rite he “normally attended” as if it was exclusive or in conflict with the rite that, perhaps, the grieving “normally attended.” But, I do agree, make your wishes known ahead of time (bearing in mind that, unless you have it all set up, the dead don’t ultimately get a vote and it is the hands of others).
But if it’s not part of the will, how binding is it? One can always keep a copy of the will before it gets officially read. They make provisions for pets so why not funeral arrangements?
And I’m shocked by your comment! His son is a priest, and a wonderful Catholic priest too.
Why are you shocked by my comment? I can only judge from my own experience. I can only surmise from your comment that you haven’t experienced a very high standard of liturgy and music at the masses you have attended.
You would surmise wrong.
It’s binding because you PAY the funeral home – you choose burial or cremation, you specify where you want the service held (my parish church NOT the funeral home), you pick out your casket or urn, mass cards, etc. I firmly believe that everyone should do this sort of planning, it would spare their families a great deal of trouble.
The choir and the soloists belong in the choir loft – they’re singing to God NOT the congregation. I really loathe this tendency to put the cantor at the ambo, rather than in the loft where he/she belongs – the hymns are supposed to be part of the offering of the service.
If you pre-pay a funeral home, yes, then it becomes an enforceable contract. When my mother died, we also bought a plot for my father next to hers, so that 24 years later the cemetery honored that, as we went through another funeral home for him.
Yes, but in fairness to LL, have you seen any in the U.K.?
In LL’s defense, have you seen funerals in the U.K.? Princess Di’s funeral was probably more Catholic than most you’ve seen.
I have to admit that I would be pleasantly surprised to hear the congregation sing at a funeral. Doesn’t happen much at my parish.
I was referring to the entrance hymn, the beautiful and appropriate “Oh God, our help in ages past” sung to St Anne’s which surely is a hymn that most people knows and should be able to sing when it has been selected for a funeral.