Our Lady of the Assumption Guide to the Funeral Liturgy
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1 Our Lady of the Assumption Guide to the Funeral Liturgy Our Lady of the Assumption Parish 40 Canal Street Marshfield, MA 02050 (781) 834-6252 [email protected] 2 Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Guide for the Funeral Liturgy “Lord, for your faithful people life is changed, not ended” Preface of Christian Death I, Roman Missal The community of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish shares in your grief as you suffer the loss of a loved one. We hope that you know that the prayers and support of the parish are with you at this difficult time. The death of a loved one can bring about many different feelings and emotions, from the shock and disbelief of sudden, unexpected death to relief when someone who has suffered for a long time is no longer suffering. The Church’s prayer in the Rite of Christian Burial focuses our attention on the mystery of the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the promise that we, too, and your loved one, are called to share in that gift of new and everlasting life. It is a time in which the Lord gives us comfort, healing and peace. In order to assist you in planning the Funeral, we would like to offer you some thoughts and guidelines. The Funeral Liturgy The normal context for the Rite of Christian Burial or Funeral Liturgy is within a Mass. Every Catholic per- son has a right to the Funeral Liturgy by the mere fact that they are baptized. The Funeral Liturgy is the prayer of the Church, the people of God, for the person who has died. The proper place for this to take place is in the church building itself which is where the community gathers for prayer. If, for good reason and after serious consideration, you should feel that the Funeral Mass is not proper at this time, arrangements may also be made for the Funeral Liturgy without a Mass at the funeral home or the cem- etery. If this is your decision, arrangements will be made to have one of the parish Masses in the near future offered in memory of your loved one. Family members are encouraged, as much as they are able, to play an active role in the Funeral Liturgy. This includes choosing and reading the Scripture selections used at the liturgy. The placing of the pall on the cas- ket at the beginning of the liturgy, as well as bringing the offertory gifts to the altar are other (non-speaking) ways of being involved. Placing of the Pall The funeral pall is a white cover draped over the coffin at the beginning of the Funeral Mass. This pall re- minds us of the white garment given to us at our Baptism. It symbolizes our new life in Christ. Members of the Family or friends of the deceased are encouraged to place the pall on the coffin. If not done by family or friends, the priest does it. If cremated remains are brought into the Church, the placing of the pall is omitted. Scripture Readings The word of God brings hope and consolation. You may choose one or two scripture readings for a Funeral Mass from the selections offered in this book beginning on page 6. Traditionally, if two scripture readings are chosen, one is chosen from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. If there is only one reading, that can be chosen from the Old Testament or the New Testament. Family members and friends are encouraged to proclaim the readings. If family members or friends are not available to read the scriptures, the lector from the church will proclaim the scripture readings. Presentation of Gifts The Church encourages members of the family or friends to bring to the altar the gifts of bread and wine for the celebration of the Eucharist. 3 Reflection of Remembrance (Eulogy) While the eulogy is traditionally not a part of the Funeral Liturgy, we do allow one person, a family member or a friend of the deceased, to offer a reflection in his or her memory. “In the Archdiocese of Boston, one speaker who is chosen by the family may offer not more than a five minute remembrance of the de- ceased at the Funeral Liturgy…. The remarks are to be simple, brief, and prepared” (Policy, #700.4).” It is not required, nor recommended, nor is it expected that a friend or family member speak at the funeral. This is merely an allowance. A eulogy or reflection is most appropriate at the wake service. Music Music in worship affects our feelings and our prayers. Often it gives expression to our inner thoughts. Music is a very important part of the Funeral Liturgy. Since the funeral is our prayer of thanksgiving to God for the gift of life of our loved one, and the promise of eternal life for him or her through Jesus Christ, it is important that the music for the Funeral Liturgy be sacred music. The texts of the music should reflect the Paschal Mys- tery of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection (Policy, #400.7). Popular non-religious songs are not appro- priate at this time (Policy, #1000).. Thus, we encourage you to select Church hymns which speak of your faith and which will strengthen and console you at this time. While such songs as Danny Boy and Wind Beneath My Wings are beautiful and remind us of our loved one, they do not fit well into the Funeral Liturgy. We would recommend that, should you feel that this type of song is necessary, you make arrangements for it to be played or sung either at the funeral home during the vis- iting hours or at the conclusion of the prayers at the cemetery. If you have any question about the appropri- ateness of a song in the church or its placement in the Funeral Rites, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to assist you. Music appropriate to the Funeral Liturgy is listed on page 9. Musicians not affiliated with Our Lady of the Assumption Parish: The Music team as part of their posi- tion on our staff provide music for all liturgical events. If there is a family member or friend of the deceased who your want to be a part of the liturgical celebration, would join our music ministers or perhaps sing one particular song. This person needs to be versed in liturgical music. Arrangements for this need to be made with our music directory prior to the funeral liturgy Cremation It has long been the tradition of the Church to pray the Funeral Liturgy in the presence of the body and to bury the body in a cemetery to await the day of resurrection. The body, regarded as the temple of the Holy Spirit and the vessel through which God gives us life, is to be afforded respect even in death. Recently, it has become possible to bring cremated remains into the Church for the Funeral Liturgy. While cremation is permitted for various reasons (finances, transportation, etc.), it is preferable, if possible, to wait until after the Funeral Liturgy to do so to cremate the remains of the deceased. (Policy on Ecclesiastical Fu- neral Rites #1200.1). Our Lady of the Assumption 40 Canal Street Marshfield, MA 02050 Phone: (781) 824-6252 [email protected] Staff Contact Information Rev. Paul J Aveni Administrator Email: [email protected] (781) 834-6252 Rosemary Madden, Director of Music Email: [email protected] (781) 820 -1023 4 Reading I from Old Testament OT1. He acted in an excellent and noble way as he had the resurrection of the dead in view. A reading from the second Book of Maccabees Judas, the ruler of Israel, took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drach- mas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin. The word of the Lord. OT2. I know that my Vindicator lives. A reading from the Book of Job Job answered Bildad the Shuhite and said: Oh, would that my words were written down! Would that they were inscribed in a record: That with an iron chisel and with lead they were cut in the rock forever! But as for me, I know that my Vindica- tor lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust; Whom I myself shall see: my own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him; And from my flesh I shall see God; my inmost being is consumed with longing. The word of the Lord. OT3. As sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. A reading from the Book of Wisdom The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace.