Perhaps you have clicked on this section because you are planning a funeral for a loved one. If so, our prayers are with you and all who are grieving. Please feel free to contact our Liturgy Director at the parish office: Carleen Murphy (cmurphy@stpatrickmchenry.org) or 815-385-0025. We will (in most cases) already been notified by the funeral home of the death of your loved one and are aware that you will be contacting us.
Perhaps you are merely advancing in years and thinking ahead to this and other end of life issues. If so we hope this information will be helpful and if you have further questions, please feel to ask by using the above contact information.
Who may have a Roman Catholic funeral?
All baptized Catholics are entitled to a Roman Catholic funeral. Catechumens (adults who are preparing for baptism in the Catholic Church), children who died before they could be baptized, and (in some circumstances) Christians of other faith traditions, may have a Roman Catholic funeral.
What does a Roman Catholic funeral look like?
There are three parts to a Roman Catholic funeral:
1) Vigil for the Deceased (occurs during the wake)
2) Funeral liturgy in the form of Mass (Eucharistic Liturgy) or service of the Word
3) Committal of the body into the ground or a crypt
What happens during the Vigil for the Deceased (wake)?
Family and friends come together, most often in the presence of the body, in a space large enough for visitors to greet one another. Common choices are a funeral home or church building. During this time a priest, deacon or lay minister will lead a brief prayer service with scripture readings, intercessions, possibly hymns or other music and the opportunity for reflecting on the life of the deceased. As this is the appropriate time for any eulogies, family and friends are often invited to participate by sharing stories of the deceased or to continue the story telling after the prayer service is concluded.
What is a funeral Mass like?
The funeral Mass follows the same pattern as a typical Mass with additional elements that draw attention to the place the deceased person had in the life of the mourners and most especially, the Christian belief in resurrection. Some of these elements are:
Is there music at a funeral Mass?
Yes. Special hymns are chosen to be part of the funeral Mass. These speak to God’s presence even in times of sorrow, of our hope in the resurrection and other themes that allow the participants to pray in this difficult time. A parish music director, priest or other pastoral minister can help with the selection of appropriate and meaningful hymns.
What else happens at a funeral Mass?
Special readings from sacred scripture are proclaimed. The Order of Christian Funerals offers a wide array of suggestions. Typically, there are two readings taken from both or either the Old and New Testament (Hebrew and Christian scriptures,) a psalm (usually sung and also taken from the scriptures) and a Gospel reading.
Who may proclaim the readings?
May anyone beside the priest or deacon speak of the deceased during the funeral Mass?
While this is most/more appropriate at the wake service/the graveside or the gathering afterwards, a short 5 minute eulogy by 1 person is allowed. The priest must see and approve what is to be said prior to the Mass. This brief reflection on the life of the deceased occurs right after Communion.
When would one choose a service of the Word rather than a Mass?
Circumstances that would make this a necessary or preferable option are:
What considerations are made when the deceased is a Veteran?
Is there anything else that one might expect to see during a Roman Catholic funeral Mass?
Sometimes incense is used. It signifies our prayers “rising” and shows our special respect for the body of the deceased and the bread and wine that will be used to become the Body and Blood of Christ.
What happens at the graveside or mausoleum?
This is a very brief service consisting of prayers and a short reading from the scriptures. A brief reflection might be offered by the priest, lay minister or family spokesperson, especially if some time has passed since the funeral Mass or Word service (as with spring interment after a winter death.)
May a Roman Catholic be cremated?
Yes. Ideally, the cremation occurs after the funeral Mass so that the rituals which demonstrate the Roman Catholic respect for the human body may be used. However, if the deceased is cremated prior to the funeral Mass, the rituals and words are slightly changed to remove references to the presence of the body. Because of the Roman Catholic belief in the resurrection of the body cremated remains are to be interred in their entirety, placed in the ground or a mausoleum. Burial at sea is possible as long as the cremated remains are encased in a container. Click here for more information on cremation.