“Lord, for your faithful people, life is changed, not ended.” This brief prayer from the funeral Mass encapsulates the Christian conception of death. The death of a loved one or even oneself can be difficult to ponder, but even after death there is a chance for grace. In her wisdom, the Church offers us the Rites of Christian Burial as a way to structure our approach, prayer, and mourning when confronted with death.
It is a nearly universal fact for cultures to have rituals around the burial of the dead, but for Catholics, there are particular reasons for gathering after someone’s death. The Order of Service for Funerals lays this out quite clearly: “At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun in the waters of Baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table, the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end, nor does it break the bonds forged in life. The Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in the funeral rites with the comforting Word of God and the Sacrament of the Eucharist.” The primary reason for funerals is to offer prayers for the deceased. Based in the Church’s teaching that most of the faithful departed undergo a purification process in Purgatory, She affirms that prayers for the dead can assist them through this process.
The actual rite of the funeral might begin with the Vigil Service or wake a day before the funeral Mass. Normally in the United States, a wake is held at a funeral home, but in other places, this might happen in the church itself. At this point, the body is often exposed so that mourners may see the deceased. In this time of grieving, the Church gathers as a community and a priest offers a brief liturgy for these vigils which consists of a few readings and prayers. Also at this time, mourners offer prayers for the dead and his family, console those affected by the death, and remember the life of the deceased.
Normally the funeral liturgy takes place a day after a vigil or wake. This liturgy often includes a Mass which is fitting as it is the highest prayer the Church can offer. The funeral begins with the procession, including the casket. The casket may then be sprinkled with holy water reminding everyone of the baptismal waters through which the deceased hopes for salvation. Afterwards, the funeral Mass follows the format of a usual Mass, but the prayers are focused on Christ’s triumph over death, God’s mercy, and intercession for the deceased. This opening prayer sets the tone for the rest of the funeral: “O God, Almighty Father, our faith professes that Your Son died and rose again; mercifully grant, that through this mystery, Your servant (name of deceased), who has fallen asleep in Christ, may rejoice to rise again through Him. Who lives and reigns with You.”
Another thing which makes Catholic funerals unique is that there is not a eulogy. While there is a short homily based on the readings, the Mass is not considered an appropriate time to speak in praise of the dead. This can all happen at the wake or a later point, but the Mass is reserved for the praise of Christ. In this particular Mass, the worship, especially the Eucharistic sacrifice, is offered to God on behalf of the deceased: “As we humbly present to you these sacrificial offerings, O Lord, for the salvation of Your servant (name of deceased), and we beseech Your mercy, that he, who did not doubt Your Son to be a loving Savior, may find in Him a merciful Judge.” The themes of mercy and resurrection feature prominently in the prayers, but not a celebration of the individual.
The Church liturgy concludes with the Rite of Committal or burial. The deceased is committed to the ground with another short liturgy with readings from Scripture and further prayers for the dead. Ideally, the burial takes place in a consecrated burial ground. The Vatican instruction on burial of bodies states, “By burying the bodies of the faithful, the Church confirms her faith in the resurrection of the body, and intends to show the great dignity of the human body as an integral part of the human person whose body forms part of their identity.” As with all liturgy, the various Rites of Christian Burial are the Church’s way of guiding our prayer and grief at key moments and are sources of grace both for those who are praying and those for whom the prayers are offered.
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