What are the vestment colors for a funeral mass?

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I’ve attended a NO mass/funeral today. The vestments were black. Previously white and purple has been used. What are the norms?
 
All three are acceptable. Black was, I believe, obligatory pre-1967, though purple may also have been allowed. But the current system permits a choice…presumably on the part of the family, but also the Priest.

White has become most commonplace with a refocusing on doctrines of resurrection and salvation, since black is mournful and purple is penitential…it follows with the theological view of making funerals a “mass of the Resurrection”.

Once exception: RED is the liturgical color for the funerals of Popes and Cardinals.
 
Consider yourself lucky! Black and violet are the norm, except in countries where bishops’ conferences have requested the use of white from the Holy See. In those countries, white may also be used. I’m not actually sure if white has been granted for use in the US or not.
 
From 346 of the GIRM:

e) Besides the color violet, the colors white or black may be used at funeral services and at other Offices and Masses for the Dead in the Dioceses of the United States of America.
 
Old habits die hard…my grandmother has given express instructions that she be buried in a mass with black vestments (and yes, her church has a set).
 
marty1818 said:
From 346 of the GIRM:

e) Besides the color violet, the colors white or black may be used at funeral services and at other Offices and Masses for the Dead in the Dioceses of the United States of America.
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Aw, darn.
mburn16 said:
Old habits die hard…my grandmother has given express instructions that she be buried in a mass with black vestments (and yes, her church has a set).
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I should write that in my will.
 
mburn16 said:
You object to white?
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Yes. I don’t care for it, personally. It’s nice that it harkens to the resurrection, but I think it’s inappropriate for something that is supposed to be sad, and I’d find it insulting (if I could know!) if it was worn at my own funeral. That would be as bad as a mother wearing a black dress to her daughter’s wedding, IMO. I’d rather not pretend about feelings at a funeral. I feel the same about white vestments at funerals as I do about the “canonizations from the pulpit,” as I feel it’s about the same thing.
 
fair enough.

out of curiosity, how would you feel about “Jesus Christ is risen today” at a funeral?
 
mburn16 said:
fair enough.

out of curiosity, how would you feel about “Jesus Christ is risen today” at a funeral?
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🤷 Jesus Christ is risen every day. It would be appropriate any day, therefore, but I probably wouldn’t pick it for a funeral. That seems most appropriate at Easter masses. We could just as easily sing “For All the Saints,” but it wouldn’t be the most appropriate, even thought it wouldn’t be incorrect either. IMO, songs and vestments and decorations should exemplify what the theme of the mass is. We could sing Dies Irae at the Easter Vigil, and while it wouldn’t be theologically incorrect, why would we want to sing that at the Easter Vigil?
 
I have told my wife and my pastor that I would prefer black vestments at my funeral, whenever it happens.

That is not something that I can put in my will, as it will always the be choice of the celebrant, but I can make my preferences known 🙂

I too prefer black over white. .

Black, (and violet) are the colors of penance and prayer, black more so in a funeral, as it is a reminder that dust we are and to dust we shall return.

White is the color of the ressurection. My funeral Mass is not a Mass of Canonization. I will be in need of penance and prayer on behaf of my friends and the black vestments will be a reminder of that.
 
mburn16 said:
Old habits die hard…my grandmother has given express instructions that she be buried in a mass with black vestments (and yes, her church has a set).
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YoungTradCath said:
I should write that in my will.
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I already have.

Attending an EF Requiem Mass today - priest will be in black.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of our friend’s father, as he is laid to rest today.

~Liza
 
The universal GIRM 146 says:

  1. *]Color violaceus adhibetur tempore Adventus et Quadragesimae. Assumi potest etiam in Officiis et Missis defunctorum.
    *]Color niger adhiberi potest, ubi mos est, in Missis defunctorum.
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  1. Code: 
          Conferentiae tamen Episcoporum possunt definire, ad colores  liturgicos quod attinet, et proponere Apostolicae Sedi aptationes, quae  necessitatibus et ingenio populorum respondeant.
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    or, in English
    d) The colour violet or purple is used in Advent and Lent. It may also be worn in
    Offices and Masses for the Dead.
    e) The colour black may be used, where it is the practice, in Masses for the Dead.
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    Regarding liturgical colours, moreover, the Conference of Bishops may
    determine and propose to the Apostolic See adaptations suited to the needs and
    culture of peoples.
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I don’t care what colour the vestments will be at my funeral Mass but I want a proper Requiem Mass in Gregorian Chant 😃

And I especially don’t want Amazing Grace sung at my funeral Mass!
 
Brendan said:
I have told my wife and my pastor that I would prefer black vestments at my funeral, whenever it happens.

That is not something that I can put in my will, as it will always the be choice of the celebrant, but I can make my preferences known .
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You can surely put this in your will. It is in mine, along with other details. While a celebrant could conceivably choose to ignore the wishes expressed in a will, I think that few would actually do so when shown the legal document by a family member. A greater question may be whether or not the parish has black vestments.
 
Chatter163 said:
You can surely put this in your will. It is in mine, along with other details. While a celebrant could conceivably choose to ignore the wishes expressed in a will, I think that few would actually do so when shown the legal document by a family member. A greater question may be whether or not the parish has black vestments.
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Leave some cash for some. 🙂
 
There will probably be several folks that say, I’m morbid, but I have a complete black set of vestments including cope, altar frontal and requiem altar cards. I have had my youngest son build my coffin and its is in storage. The grave site has been selected.

Most everything is in place. Still need to purchase unbleached candles. The family has a choice of one of four priests, that can say the EF. There will be minimal involvement with the funeral home so costs are way down.

If the kids want to hire a Gregorian schola, thats their business but I have asked for a Requiem low Mass. If they want a High Mass, thats also their choice.
 
corsair said:
There will probably be several folks that say, I’m morbid, but I have a complete black set of vestments including cope, altar frontal and requiem altar cards. I have had my youngest son build my coffin and its is in storage. The grave site has been selected.

Most everything is in place. Still need to purchase unbleached candles. The family has a choice of one of four priests, that can say the EF. There will be minimal involvement with the funeral home so costs are way down.

If the kids want to hire a Gregorian schola, thats their business but I have asked for a Requiem low Mass. If they want a High Mass, thats also their choice.
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Having a set of black vestments to ensure that a priest will be able to wear them is certainly not morbid.

However, building your own coffin? Coffins–and the bodies that are placed in them–must meet local health code ordinances, and I would guess that most cemeteries will only deal with funeral homes for burials, partly to ensure that all legal requirements are being met. It is unlikely that a cemetery will allow anyone other than a licensed and bonded funeral home to bury a casket in their grounds. The result is the family’s need to deal with a funeral home for the preparation of the body, purchase of a casket for burial, and the grave opening, at the very least. The family might deal directly with the church, but at that point, that saves them little money. It is not as simple as it was centuries ago.
 
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