Saint Cecilia Church

FUNERALS DURING THE SEASON OF LENT AND THE EASTER TRIDUUM

Good liturgical practice would suggest reflecting the liturgical season in the choice of music and scriptures. The season of Lent may also reflect a change in the color of vesture and employ the option to use purple (OCF, 39). Although the Order of Christian Funerals emphasizes hope in the resurrection, the Alleluia remains suppressed during the Funeral Liturgy. The Gospel Acclamations of Lent are used and hymns containing alleluias are carefully avoided.

On Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, a funeral Mass may not be celebrated. On these days the body of the deceased may be brought into the church for the Funeral Liturgy Outside Mass using the Order of Christian Funerals, Part I Chapter 4. A Mass for the deceased should be offered as soon as it is convenient after Easter Sunday (OCF, 107-203).

Emotion and emotionalism a commentary by Cardinal Justin Rigali on the celebration of funeral liturgies.

Catechism of the Catholic Church on Funerals

Prayer After Death of Loved One

Saints of God, come to his/her aid!
Come to meet him/her, angels of the Lord!
Receive his/her soul and present him/her to God the Most High.

May Christ, Who called you, take you to Himself;
may angels lead you to Abraham's side.
Receive his/her soul and present him/her to God the Most High.

Give him/her eternal rest, O Lord,
and may Your light shine upon him/her forever.
Receive his/her soul and present him/her to God the Most High.

Let us pray: We commend our brother/sister, (Name) to you, Lord.
Now that he/she has passed from this life,
may he/she live on in Your presence.
In Your mercy and love, forgive whatever sins he/she
may have committed through human weakness.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Prayer for the Deceased Person

Almighty Father, eternal God, hear our prayers for Your son/daughter (Name) whom You have called from this life to Yourself. Grant him/her light, happiness, and peace. Let him/her pass in safety through the gates of death, and live forever with all Your saints in the light You promised to Abraham and to all his descendants in faith. Guard him/her from all harm and on that great day of resurrection and reward raise him/her up with all Your saints. Pardon his/her sins and give him/her eternal life in Your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.


A Prayer for a Deceased Mother

O God, who hast commanded us to honor our father and our mother; in Thy mercy have pity on the soul of my mother, and forgive her her trespasses; and make me to see her again in the joy of everlasting brightness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.


A Prayer for a Deceased Father

O God, who hast commanded us to honor our father and our mother; in Thy mercy have pity on the soul of my father, and forgive his his trespasses; and make me to see him again in the joy of everlasting brightness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.


A Prayer for Deceased Parents

O God, who hast commanded us to honor our father and our mother; in Thy mercy have pity on the souls of my father and mother, and forgive them their trespasses; and make me to see them again in the joy of everlasting brightness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.


A Prayer for a Deceased Spouse

Eternal God, You made the union of man and woman a sign of the bond between Christ and the Church. Grant mercy and peace to (Name), who was united in love me. May the care and devotion of his/her life on earth find a lasting reward in heaven. Look compassionately on his/her children and me, as now we turn to Your mercy and love. Strengthen our faith and lighten our loss. Amen.


A Prayer for a Deceased Son or Daughter

O God, You gave us a son/daughter, and in Your wisdom and love have called him/her home to You before us. Please listen to our humble prayer: pardon his/her sins and faults, and grant that we may be reunited safely in Your Presence. Through Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, we beg this of You. Amen.


A Prayer for a Deceased Brother, Relative, or Friend

You are, O God, quick to pardon and desire man's salvation. In Your goodness we ask You to grant our deceased brothers, relatives, and friends everlasting happiness. With the help of Blessed Mary ever Virgin and all Your saints, we ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Rosary for the Dead

This rosary consists of 40 beads in memory of the 40 hours
which Our Lord is thought to have spent in Limbo.
There are also the 5 introductory beads as on the Dominican Rosary.
One begins and ends this chaplet with the
De profundis or an Our Father and Hail Mary.
On the large beads is made acts of faith, hope, and charity.
On each small bead is said: "Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation."
Each decade is concluded with: "Eternal rest grant unto them, etc."
The final prayer is as follows:
V. Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon him/her.
V. May he/she rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. May his/her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.
a May the love of God and the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ bless us and console us and gently wipe every tear from our eyes:
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.