If you have ever wondered why Catholics have certain rituals and practices at the time of death, then you are not alone. Our faith in the Paschal Mystery (the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ) reveals itself through the dying and death of each Christian. The following points are designed to invite reflection upon the meaning of what we do and believe at the time of a Christian’s death.
+In facing death, we are reminded that God has created each person for eternal life.
+We celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a person’s life, which has now been returned to the Author of Life.
+At the death of a Christian, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased. We are confident in the conviction that death is not the end, nor does it break the bonds of family, friendship and community that are forged in life.
+The Church through its funeral rites commends the dead to God’s merciful love and pleads for the forgiveness of their sins.
+The celebration of the Christian funeral brings hope and consolation to the living.
+In the Eucharistic sacrifice, the Church celebrates Christ’s Passover from death to life and our participation in this great mystery. The faith of all the baptized is renewed and nourished in this celebration.
In summary, we believe that in celebrating the funeral rites, we affirm and express the union of the Church on earth with the Church in heaven in the one great communion of saints. Though separated from the living, the dead are still at one with the community of believers on earth and benefit from their prayers and intercession.
Why Do Catholics Bury their Dead with Dignity?
When we are baptized, we believe that our bodies are marked with the seal of the Holy Trinity. Since we therefore become temples of the Holy Spirit we respect and honor the bodies of the dead and the places where they rest.
Our customs associated with the preparation of the body of the deceased are always marked with dignity and reverence and never with the despair of those who have no hope. Therefore, in the presence of the deceased, we turn to prayer. In this time of sorrow, it is through prayer that we receive the necessary grace and consoling assurances of our faith.
For the final disposition of the body, it is the ancient Christian custom to bury or entomb the bodies of the dead. Cremation is permitted, unless it is evident that cremation was chosen for anti-Christian motives.
Every Catholic may be buried from the Catholic Church. Catechumens and children whose parents intended to have them baptized but died before baptism may also receive the rite of Christian Burial. Members of other Christian faith traditions usually receive the funeral rites of their own Church. However, if their minister is unavailable or the deceased was not active in his/her denomination a Catholic family member may request the rites of the Church for their loved one.
When a member of the faithful has died the Church identifies three stations for the celebration of the rite of Christian burial:
+The Vigil (Wake)
+The celebration of the Eucharist (Mass)
+The Committal (the place of internment, burial and mourning)
The Vigil for the deceased, commonly known as the Wake, is the initial rite celebrated by the Christian community at the time following death and before the funeral liturgy and the rite of committal.
The Vigil usually takes place in a funeral home. It may also take place in the family home or in the parish church where it is the custom.
The celebration of the Vigil is the time for the Christian community to offer both prayer and consolation to the members of the bereaved family; to read and reflect on the Word of God; to call upon our God of Mercy through intercessory prayer; and to provide an opportunity for family and friends to recall the memory of their loved one. Other prayers, such as the Rosary, are also encouraged since they help us to reflect upon the Paschal Mystery and so lead us to a greater sense of hope at this time of grief.
For Catholics the celebration of the Mass is both the source and the summit of our faith. Hence, when we celebrate the Mass at the time of death it is seen as the fullest expression of our faith in God’s abundant mercy, our hope in the resurrection of the dead and the love that God has for us which is not extinguished even by death.
As an expression of our faith in Jesus Christ we actively participate in the Funeral Mass. At an appropriate time, family members may choose the Scripture readings for the Mass, cover the casket with the pall, place Christian symbols on the casket (crucifix, bible), present the bread and wine at the preparation rite and join the music ministry in song.
Members of the parish community also participate in the funeral liturgy and join with the bereaved family in the celebration of the funeral rites by proclaiming the Word, leading the faithful in song, serving at the altar and if needed, helping with the distribution of communion.
A priest or deacon always preaches at the Funeral Mass. By preaching on Jesus Christ, who conquered death by His victory on the cross, our faith offers consolation to the family in their loss and challenges the community to live more faithful lives.
A eulogy differs from a homily and consists of a reflection on the life of the deceased and how this person touched the lives of others. Eulogies may be shared at the Vigil or after the Committal. It may be helpful to check with the parish regarding its policy on eulogies at Mass. If the parish priest agrees a family member or friend may share one brief eulogy not more than five minutes after the communion rite at Mass.
Please understand the Mass is an act of worship by the entire Church. The Mass has a sense of integrity and thus requests for music, rites, expressions that go against this integrity cannot be accommodated.
The Rite of Committal is celebrated at the place of burial. Through the committal of the body to its place of rest, we express our hope that the deceased will experience the glory of the resurrection.
What is Special about Catholic Cemeteries?
We believe that the Catholic Cemetery is land that has been set apart, blessed and consecrated by the Church for the specific purpose of burying the body.
This sacred nature is directly related to the Church’s belief in the resurrection of the body and the final consummation of the world.
In addition to practicing Catholics, those who have not been active in the Catholic faith or those who have joined another Christian faith may be buried in a Catholic Cemetery. They may have either a priest, deacon or a minister of their faith tradition celebrate the particular ritual for commendation and burial.
Non-Catholic spouses and family members of Catholics may be buried in a Catholic cemetery and may have either a priest or deacon celebrate the rites of burial when their own minister is unavailable.
Many Catholic cemeteries have a reserved area for the burial of stillborn children and those who have sadly been aborted.
While the Church encourages burial of the body, after the manner of Christ’s own burial, out of respect for the human body and belief in the resurrection, cremation may be chosen for a sufficient reason, such as:
+Hygienic or other reasons of a public nature.
+Transfer of the remains to/from a distant place.
+Avoidance of considerable expense.
+It was the specific choice of the individual before death or the family after death.
When cremation is designated, the funeral rites are conducted in the usual way with the body present and cremation taking place after the celebration of the Funeral Mass at the church.
In unusual circumstances when the bodily remains are cremated before the Funeral Mass, we still celebrate the Mass with the cremated remains present in the church with the appropriate ritual adaptations.
The cremated remains are always buried or inurned. They are not buried on private land but in consecrated ground in a cemetery. The urn may be buried at sea. It is not proper to scatter or pour the cremated remains over the sea, waters or on the land or to separate them into different containers, encasing the cremains in jewelry, and or not burying the cremains are practices that actively deny the belief in the resurrection. These choices would then preclude any funeral rites to be celebrated in the Catholic faith tradition. A good rule to follow is to treat the cremated remains with the same dignity that you would treat the body.
+Contact your parish when your loved one is seriously ill and ask for the priest to visit them. When he arrives, he will offer the Sacrament of Confession, administer the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and give your loved one Communion. When appropriate he will pray the prayers for the commendation of the dying.
+It is good to plan ahead of time. Many funeral homes and cemeteries have advanced planning. Contact the parish about what is and what is not permitted at funerals and write in your will what you would like.
+At times when death catches us off guard we may not always remember that the Funeral Rites are liturgical rites of the Church. Therefore, please understand if the parish cannot accommodate some requests, such as a specific poem, song or article that was your loved one’s favorite. There are other moments outside of the liturgy, such as the Wake, when you can share these things with your family and friends.
Funerals are a special time for God’s grace and mercy, a time to open your heart, receive His blessings and place your hope in the resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. May this be your experience.