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When a Christian Dies Planning A Catholic Funeral Frequently Asked Questions About Funeral Planning Planning a Funeral Mass with a family is When A a gift of pastoral care and also a moment My (relative) hasn’t been to Mass in years, Q but s/he was baptized Catholic. Can we of evangelization for the family and the still celebrate a Catholic Funeral Mass? Christian Dies mourners who will attend. The parish staff Every baptized Catholic is entitled to all three should use its fullest resources to welcome moments of a Christian funeral: the Vigil and support a family in a difficult time. Service, the Funeral Mass, and the Rite of Roman Catholic Funeral Rites Regardless of the number of the mourners Committal. We cannot judge the state of grace of the deceased. The Church embraces all. “At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was anticipated, the Vigil and related Rites begun in the waters of Baptism and strengthened should be offered, to assist a family in Do we have to have a Funeral Vigil Q Service, or can we simply have a rosary at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on expressing their sorrow and to begin the recited by a group? behalf of the deceased because of its confident initial adjustment to the fact of death. This belief that death is not the end... the Church also A Funeral Vigil service is an opportunity for a raises awareness that mourners may also family to begin the process of mourning and ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in need to experience a gradual process of healing. It is also a time for the prayer and the funeral rites with the comforting Word of God reconciliation. participation of those who are unable to attend and the Sacrament of the Eucharist.” the funeral. A rosary could be part of this, as — Order of Christian Funerals (OCF), n. 4 The Funeral Liturgy can be either within or an element included with a Funeral Vigil. outside of a Mass. The Church encourages Our family isn’t very “musical.” Who can A Guide for the Diocese of Dallas the faithful to celebrate Mass when one of Q help us select music for the Vigil service The Catholic Funeral Liturgy is divided its members dies, but the ritual book for and/or the Funeral Mass? Christian funerals provides several pastoral into three distinct parts, each with The parish music director, parish funeral its own purpose. For that reason, we choices, to adapt to local circumstances. planner, or a qualified cantor will meet with recommend following the complete It is advisable that the parish community be the family and assist with appropriate music structure and making use of each informed of the death, perhaps through an selections. liturgical “moment” offered to a family. We want to have several eulogies at the announcement at the Sunday Mass, and be Part I The Vigil Service (Wake) invited to attend and pray with the family at Q Funeral Mass. Is there a time limit for each speaker? Generally a Service of the Word, with sacred the funeral. It is also recommended that the scripture readings, accompanied by prayer, music planner, cantor, lectors, Communion A Catholic Funeral Mass allows pastorally for a brief remembrance of the deceased. If other reflection, time for recalling the life of the ministers, and hospitality ministers are remembrances are offered, the best time and deceased, and possibly a rosary. provided by parish, fully aware of their place is at the Funeral Vigil service. There is Part II Funeral Liturgy (Mass, or Outside of opportunity to provide seamless ministry more flexibility at that service. Mass) and comfort for the family of the deceased. Our Dad wants to keep our Mother’s This care and concern can also foster Q ashes (cremains or cremated remains) at The central celebration of the family, friends, and evangelization. home for awhile, after the Funeral Mass. Is this the Christian community is the Funeral Mass, allowed? although when Mass cannot be celebrated, a The Church guides us to respect the cremated Funeral liturgy Outside of Mass can take place. remains of a body, while allowing that keeping Part III Rite of Committal (Burial or Interment) the cremated remains at home is not the reverent disposition that the Church requires. Ideally, a baptized person is buried in a Catholic This is equally true of scattering cremains on cemetery, or parish cemetery or columbarium. the sea or from the air. A Catholic may be buried in a non- Catholic cemetery, when the ground is blessed for burial. About the Vigil Service, that the parish family may be the primary What the Church Says About Funeral Mass & Burial support for the deceased. In that case, a parish Cremated Remains & Cremation Funeral Mass is warranted. When a deceased person is identified as The United States Conference of Catholic Burial of cremated remains or the body of the Catholic, funeral home directors should Bishops (USCCB) requested from the deceased should be in a sacred place, but the contact the parish office or pastor at the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Church does not mandate a Catholic cemetery earliest possible convenience to determine Sacraments an indult (special dispensation) to although this is the preference. The body or the availability of the church, an appropriate allow the presence of cremated remains of a the cremated remains may be interred either minister (priest for Mass, priest, deacon, or body at a Funeral Mass. The USCCB received in a grave, or entombed in a mausoleum others for Vigil Service) and the necessary approval for this Indult on Cremation on 21 or columbarium. The practice of scattering parish staff, particularly the music director. The March, 1997. The Vatican’s position is that cremated remains (ashes) on the sea, in the date, time, and minister must be confirmed human remains, “even cremated, be accorded air, or on the ground is not permitted for a before a commitment to the family is made. proper respect as befits the dignity of the Catholic. Keeping cremated remains “at home, The Funeral Vigil assists a family to begin human person and of baptized Christians.” or in the home of a relative or friend is not the the mourning process by gathering for a reverent disposition that the Church requires” The rites for burial of the cremated remains of Service of the Word with features of prayer, (OCF, n. 416). (The diocesan Office of Worship a body may be found in the Appendix to the remembrance, story-telling. A Vigil Service or the pastor can explain how to properly Order of Christian Funerals. This Appendix may be held in a funeral home, or in a church bury remains at sea, in an urn, coffin, or other recommends that when cremation is chosen, or chapel. container.) the body be cremated after the funeral, thus The Funeral Mass must be held in a church allowing for the presence of the body at the or approved chapel (such as a chapel in a Diocesan Policy for Funerals Funeral Mass. When pastoral circumstances Catholic cemetery). Typically, the parish church require it, however, cremation and committal is the site for a Funeral Mass. The Funeral In the Diocese of Dallas, the Funeral Mass may take place even before the funeral liturgy. Mass is the central liturgical celebration for the must be celebrated in a properly designated This liturgy constitutes, nevertheless, a Funeral deceased, and this Eucharistic celebration must parish church, parish chapel, or another sacred Mass rather than a “memorial” Mass. The be carried out in a sacred place. Planning a Catholic chapel or oratory. No permission is Appendix to the Order of Christian Funerals Catholic Funeral Mass with a family is a gift of granted for the Funeral Mass to be celebrated can be obtained from the Office of Worship, pastoral care. The parish should use its fullest in a funeral home or funeral home chapel. or found on the diocesan website https:// resources to welcome and support a family in A mausoleum chapel at a Catholic cemetery www.cathdal.org/funerals/ this difficult time. Regardless of the number of is considered to be a viable alternative to a parish church. The funerals of Catholics are Additional information is available on the mourners expected, the Funeral Vigil, Funeral U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops website Mass, and Committal services should be governed by regulations contained within the Order of Christian Funerals (OCF) and Canon https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/ offered. This raises awareness that mourners bereavement-and-funerals/ can express their sorrow, begin the initial Law. Any request to celebrate a Funeral Mass adjustment to loss, and possibly experience in a place other than a designated Catholic gradual reconciliation. sacred place must be made to the Office of the Bishop, before a Funeral Mass may take Circumstances may allow for a Funeral place. A Funeral Vigil service, however, may be Liturgy Outside of Mass when a Catholic dies, celebrated in a funeral home chapel or another especially if there are no other Catholic friends appropriate place for prayer and reflection. or relatives of the deceased. Recall, though, .
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