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The Funeral Rite for Adults, an Experiment

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The Funeral Rite for Adults, an Experiment VOLUME II - 14 THE FUNERAL RITE FOR ADULTS ''AN EXPERIMENT" ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE POST-CONCILIAR COMMISSION ON THE SACRED LITURGY MAY 1967 ~·-:~- The National Bulletin on Liturgy is not published on fixed dates. ... The subscriptions are available from the Chancery Office of every Dioceses in Canada or from the: LITURGY PUBLICATION SERVICE 90 Parent Avenue Ottawa 2, Ont. Price: $6.00 Price of this issue: $1.00 THE FUNERAL RITE FOR ADULTS "AN EXPERIMENT" ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE POST-CONCILIAR COMMISSION ON THE SACRED LITURGY During the past few months permission has been granted to sev­ eral local Ordinaries to engage in this experiment in their respective Dioceses. The full text of the Experimental Funeral Rite is here provided with permission of Episcopal Commission on Liturgy and solely for purposes of information. THIS RITE MAY BE USED ONLY WHERE AUTHORIZED BY A LOCAL ORDINARY WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN THE EXPERIMENT. 96 NATIONAL BULLETIN ON LITURGY, 14 --~~-- ---~----.-- INTRODUCTION "J J GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS: 1. The Experiment must be carried out according to the instructions of the Post-Conciliar Commission on the Liturgy, as herein outlined. One is not permitted to experiment with the Experiment. 2. Within the Rite itself, much freedom is allowed the Celebrant in the selection of various Readings and Prayers, to allow greater variety according to the circumstances of the individual funeral. Priests are encouraged to try as many variations as may be consistant with the pastoral needs of each cc:Iebration. 3. Priests will be asked to n;port every three months, according to a ques­ tionnaire to be provided, which Readings and Prayers have been found most suitable, as well as the difficulties encountered, the successes achieved, the opinions of those who took part, and suggestions for the future. 4. The Experiment is to be conducted with that degree of secrecy which is possible under the circumstances. Above all, news of the exper­ iments must not be released to newspapers, radio or television. 5. The colour of the vestments will be WHITE or VIOLET. 6. The length of time of the Experiment has yet to be determined. THE RITE ITSELF: 1. The Order of the Rite is not very different from what we have been accustomed to. There are three Stations: at the Home or Funeral Home; at the .Church; and at the Cemetery. 2. Ceremonies and rubrics will be as usual, unless otherwise stated. ..... 3. Holy water and incense may be used or not, according to one's pas­ toral judgment. THE SPIRIT OF THE RITE: 1. In the funeral rites of her children the Church celebrates the paschal mystery of Christ with faith that those who by means of baptism have been incorporated in the dead and risen Christ may pass with him from death to life, and may be purified in soul and taken up to heaven with the saints and the elect, while looking forward in the body to the blessed hope of Christ's coming and the resurrection of the dead. Holy Mother Church, therefore, offers the eucharistic sacrifice of the Pasch of Christ for the liberation of the dead and pours forth prayers and petitions for them. Thus, in the communion of all the members of Christ, what ben­ efits some by way of petition may be a consoling hope for others. FUNERAL RlTE 97 2. When priests commend the dead to God in the funeral liturgy, they should remember that it is also their duty to strengthen the hope of those present and to foster their faith in the paschal mystery and in the resurrection of the dead. This is to be done in such a way that the compassionate kindness of Mother Church and the consolation of faith which they proffer may lighten the burden of believers without offending those who mourn. 3. Priests should also pay special attention to those non-Catholics or Cath­ olics who seldom or never participate in the Eucharist, or seem to have lost their faith but who on the occasion of funerals assist at liturgical celebrations or hear the gospel, for priests are the ministers of the gospel of Christ to all men. 4. In this Experimental Rite, those texts which suggest an unduly fearsome concept of death have been avoided. The emphasis now is one Christian hope and joy in the resurrection. The formularies used have a richer scriptural orientation. 5. The rite which until now has been called the Absolution will hereafter be called Commendation and Farewell. It has been reformed so that from now on it will clearly stand out not as a purification of the deceased (which ordinarily has been already achieved by the eucharistic sacrifice), but as a last farewell with which the Christian community salutes its member before the body is taken away. This is in harmony with the primitive meaning of the rite in Roman Litur­ gical tradition, as well as with the final salutation in the Oriental rites which is given with a kiss. In connection with this rite the following passage is relevant: "Then comes the final salutation which is sung for their departure from this life and their separation from us; yet there remain communion and unity, since we shall never be separated from each other in death. We shall all pass the same way and be found in the same place, and we shall never be separated, for we shall live in Christ and are now united to Christ, as we go forward to Him . In the resurrection, in the communion of the true faith, all of us who are believers will be one in Christ." (Simeon of Thessalonica). The theological depth of these words suggests the twofold meaning of this farewell: it· is at once a separation and not a separation, because the members of Christ are one in Him and are not separated by death. In fact, Christians derived this usage of a final farewell from the pagans, and rightly so, for the usage itself is not pagan but deeply human. But the meaning of the usage has been transformed by the hope of eternal life, for Christians do not say to their dead simply: "Farewell", but: "Farewell in Christ". PREPARATION OF THE PEOPLE: 1. The success of this Experiment will depend upon the careful preparation and instruction of the people of the parish. The meaning and spirit of the new rite may be taught through sermons, talks to parish societies, school, bulletin, etc. 98 NATIONAL BULLETIN ON LITURGY, 14 2. A.. careful explanation of the rite and the people's part in it should be given at each Wake. 3. Every effort must be made to teach parishioners the hymns and antiphons chosen for the Rite, so that they may participate as fully as possible. 4. A funeral choir must be formed (some parishes already have a special choir for this purpose) to prepare and render the psalms required and to lead the people in the hymns. 5. A Lay Reader should be prepared to read the First Lesson, the Prayer of the Faithful, and to lead the congregation in participation. I. STATION AT THE HOME OR FUNERAL HOME 1. The Priest, vested in surplice and white or violet stole, greets those present in a sympathetic manner and offers them the consolation of faith. 2. The Rite to be used is found in Bible Devotions For A Christian Wake, edited by Liturgical Commission of Diocese of London, Ontario, and published by Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York. 3. In addition to the Readings found in Bible Devotions For A Christian Wake, the following may also be used: 1) Ezechiel 37: 1-14 2) Romans 8: 12-23 3) Romans 14: 7-9 4) 2 Cor. 4:10- 5:1 5) Apocalypse 21 : 2-5 6) Luke 16: 19-31 7) John 11: 1-45 - 8) John 14: 1-6 9) John 17: 24-26 4. A homily must be given to explain the significance of the New Rites. 5. Those present should be encouraged to receive Holy Communion at the Funeral Mass. If possible, an opportunity for Confession might be provided. 6. The following Prayer For The Bereaved may be substituted for the one on page nine: Father of all pity and God of all consolation: You love us with an everlasting love. You tum the shadow of death into the dawn of life. Look, we pray You, on Your servants in their mourning and distress. FUNERAL RITE 99 Lord, be our Saviour and our strength. From the darkness and grief of this desolation raise us to the light and peace of Your presence. And because Your Son, Our Lord, by dying has destroyed death for us and by rising again has given us new life, Grant us, we beg You, that we may run towards Him; and when our life on earth is ended, may we one day be reunited with our brothers where every tear shall be wiped away from our eyes. Through Christ Our Lord. :ijl. Amen. 7. One of the following prayers may be substituted for the Selected Prayer: 1. Lord, Holy Father, all powerful, Everlasting God, we Humbly pray for the soul of your servant N., whom You have bidden to come to You from this life. Be pleased to grant him a place of cool repose, of light and peace. May he pass through the gates of death and remain in the dwelling of the Saints and in that Holy Light from which of old You promised to Abraham and his children. May his soul suffer no harm; but on that Great Day Of Resurrection And Reward, be pleased to raise him with Your Saints and Chosen.
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