Rite of Christian Burial and Rite of Commendation

[on_the_hill]

At my mother’s funeral on Monday, I noticed that the priest said a prayer during the Final Commendation that included words of the forgiveness of all of her sins.

Like this:
“To you, O Lord, we commend the soul of N. your servant;
in the sight of this world he/she is now dead;
in your sight may he/she live for ever.
Forgive whatever sins he/she committed through human weakness
and in your goodness grant him/her everlasting peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.”

What sins would be included at that point? Would this forgive mortal sins? My understanding is that during Anointing of the Sick the person does not need to verbalize sins in order to be granted forgiveness.

Would this same forgiveness be granted to the deceased?

And if it is, why would a person need to go to Confession while he’s alive if a priest will grant him forgiveness/absolution during his funeral Mass?

 

[otjm]

At my mother’s funeral on Monday, I noticed that the priest said a prayer during the Final Commendation that included words of the forgiveness of all of her sins.

Like this:
“To you, O Lord, we commend the soul of N. your servant;
in the sight of this world he/she is now dead;
in your sight may he/she live for ever.
Forgive whatever sins he/she committed through human weakness
and in your goodness grant him/her everlasting peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.”

What sins would be included at that point? Would this forgive mortal sins? My understanding is that during Anointing of the Sick the person does not need to verbalize sins in order to be granted forgiveness.

Would this same forgiveness be granted to the deceased?

And if it is, why would a person need to go to Confession while he’s alive if a priest will grant him forgiveness/absolution during his funeral Mass?

In this prayer, the priest is not forgiving the sins of the deceased. He is asking God to forgive them. It is a prayer, a request; which is radically different from exercising his priestly ministry in the sacrament of Reconciliation.

I am sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

My understanding is that during Anointing of the Sick the person does not need to verbalize sins in order to be granted forgiveness.

That is correct if the sick person is unable to confess, e.g., unconscious.

 

[on_the_hill]

That is correct if the sick person is unable to confess, e.g., unconscious.

Not to belabor the point, but my father-in-law received Anointing when he was in the hospital recently. He was able to speak but didn’t have to state his sins to the priest. My mother-in-law was in the room at the time and asked, 'He doesn’t have to say what his sins are?!" and the priest said no, and she joked, “That’s not fair!”

 

[on_the_hill]

That is correct if the sick person is unable to confess, e.g., unconscious.

Not to belabor the point, but my father-in-law received Anointing when he was in the hospital recently. He was able to speak but didn’t have to state his sins to the priest. My mother-in-law was in the room at the time and asked, 'He doesn’t have to say what his sins are?!" and the priest said no, and she joked, “That’s not fair!”

 

[FrDavid96]

At my mother’s funeral on Monday, I noticed that the priest said a prayer during the Final Commendation that included words of the forgiveness of all of her sins.

Like this:
“To you, O Lord, we commend the soul of N. your servant;
in the sight of this world he/she is now dead;
in your sight may he/she live for ever.
Forgive whatever sins he/she committed through human weakness
and in your goodness grant him/her everlasting peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.”

What sins would be included at that point? Would this forgive mortal sins? My understanding is that during Anointing of the Sick the person does not need to verbalize sins in order to be granted forgiveness.

Would this same forgiveness be granted to the deceased?

And if it is, why would a person need to go to Confession while he’s alive if a priest will grant him forgiveness/absolution during his funeral Mass?

Remember that forgiveness and absolution are 2 different realities—very closely related ones, but distinct nonetheless.

Only a living person can be absolved.

At the funeral/burial essentially what we are saying is this:

“On the Last Day, the Day of Judgment, be merciful and forgive this person’s sins and admit that person to Heaven.”

Remember that even on Judgment Day, God can still forgive.