Song of Farewell / Final Commendation placement in funeral Mass

[DenisKay]

Why is the Song of Farewell / Final Commendation at the end of the funeral Mass? Must it be in this spot in the Liturgy? I understand that logically the final send-off should occur at the end.

But what if it was theologically more powerful at a different place in the Mass? Like, right between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist at the presentation of the gifts. We could present the deceased before God at the same time as we present our gifts and prayers. We could celebrate the Eucharist for the first time with the deceased in the communion of the saints at his or her own funeral! Am I thinking wrong here?

Plus, the musical side of me could easily see the song of farewell mesh with presentation of the gifts easily - I can envision an Old Hundredth Song of Farewell morph into Doxology.

Thanks for your thoughts on this.

 

[Irishmom2]

logically the final send-off should occur at the end.

There you go then. You answered your own question.

Would you say goodbye in the middle of a visit with a friend or wait until right before you were leaving?

 

[EqualinHim]

As a Non-Catholic observer of several funeral masses, I can say that I like it’s placement and think that it is appropriate. I’ve yet to see anything as powerful as the commendation in any Protestant service that I’ve attended.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

It is done at the end of the funeral if it is not done at the burial site which, of course, would be done after the funeral. The commendation is almost a separate rite.

 

[DenisKay]

Thank you all for your responses. I guess I was just thinking the whole thing is one giant goodbye from pronouncement of death through vigil, wake, visitation, funeral and committal. And if we believe that the soul leaves the body at the moment of death and is immediately with God or making their way toward God (assuming and hoping for good judgement), then the final commendation is sacramental in the sense that we are recognizing a spiritual reality that has already taken place and maybe it doesn’t matter exactly when this occurs.

But I think you guys are right and all in agreement: it’s very human to say our final goodbyes at the very end of things. It hit me too while reading your feedback that for pastoral reasons maybe we shouldn’t go around tinkering with funeral rites, even if acceptable and kosher. For the grieving who have just had their lives turned upside down by death of a loved one, the ritual itself is probably some small comfort of knowing what will happen next.

—Denis