The catholic funeral rite

The Vigil

* A vigil service can take place the night before the funeral and is traditionally held in the family home (can also take place in the funeral home or the church).
* If the body is taken to the church, a rota of people may keep vigil overnight.
* The vigil service involves Bible readings, reflection and prayers

The funeral rite

* A funeral can be a service without a full Mass, but a full Requiem Mass is encouraged. Cardinal Vincent Nichols says a Mass at a funeral is ^^“the highest form of prayer in which the sacrifice or Christ himself is made present”^^ (‘Preparing for my funeral).


* The funeral is a form of liturgical worship as it follows a set format/structure.
* The priest incenses the coffin, sprinkles it with holy water (a reminder the deceased was a baptised member of the Body of Christ) and places a crucifix (symbol of salvation) and gospel (symbol that the person lived according to Jesus’ teachings) on top of it.
* Hymns are sung, prayers are said and biblical passages are read which focus on beliefs about eternal life, heaven and salvation to bring hope and comfort to mourners.

The rite of committal

* This is the final act of the community in caring for the deceased’s body.
* If buried, the place of interment (burial plot) will be blessed.
* Bible readings about resurrection are read and prayers of farewell are said.
* Coffin is sprinkled with holy water one final time before being lowered into the ground.
* The eternal rest (formulaic prayer) is said and the priest blesses the mourners.

aims of a funeral rite

* Communion with the deceased – the living community remain linked with the deceased.
* Communion of the community – the living community hopes that the deceased awaits resurrection, when all the living and deceased will be reunited with God in heaven

the importance of a funeral rite

* proclaims the message of eternal life in the community
* assures the mourners the desceased is still in communion
* gives a chance to celebrate the deceased life

SOWAS funeral rite

* ^^Catechism: “The family of the deceased learn to live in communion with the one who has fallen asleep”^^
* ^^Catechism : “For even dead, we are not at all separated from one another, because we all run the same course and we will find one another again”^^