Catholic Funeral

A Catholic Funeral refers to the funeral rites specifically in use in the Roman Catholic Church. Within the church, they may also be referred to as "Ecclesiastical Funerals". In Catholic funerals, the church seeks to provide spiritual support for the deceased and honor their bodies, as well as try to provide a measure of hope for the family and friends of the deceased.

Canons 1176-1185 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law specify the norms for Catholic funerals. [cite web |url=http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4A.HTM |title=Code of Canon Law |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana |accessdate=2007-07-24]

Pre-Vatican II Rites

1.In the years before the Second Vatican Council the rites used were different than those used today.

2.The Catholic Funeral Mass was called the Requiem Mass (liturgy) - coming from the first line of the Introit used in such Masses by priests: "Réquiem, ætérnam dona eis, Dómine; ex lux perpétua lúceat eis." ("Eternal rest give to them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them"). Such Masses had a number of differences from other Masses, mainly taking a solemn character. There was much more of a focus on the sinful nature of humanity and the judgment that came at the end of a life. The priest was vested in the liturgical color black, the burning of incense at the Introit and Gospel were omitted, as was the psalm "Judica me Deus" and the kiss of peace. If a deacon was present to chant the Gospel, the acolytes bearing candles were not used in the Funeral Mass. Additionally no blessing was given. The sequence Dies Iræ, or "Day of Wrath" was included in the Mass - which spoke of the upcoming ending of the world and the judgment that followed.

3.The bier holding the body was positioned in the middle of the church. If the decedent was a member of the laity their feet would face the altar. If the decedent was a member of the clergy the head would face the altar. [cite book | last = Juergens | first = Sylvester P. | title = The New Marian Missal For Daily Mass | publisher = Regina Press, New York | year = 1960 | pages = 1376, 1387-1388|]

Modern Rites

After the Second Vatican Council, a number of the rites associated with a funeral were changed in keeping with the directives of the Council to reform the liturgy. The "Consilium for the Implementation of the Constitution on the Liturgy" removed those texts which they felt overemphasized judgment, fear, and despair - feeling that the Funeral Mass should urge hope and faith in the resurrection. [Bugnini, Annibale: "The Reform of the Liturgy : 1948–1975", (The Liturgical Press, 1990), Chap.46.II.1, p.773.]

The modern funeral Mass, or "Mass of Christian Burial", focuses on the fact that life has changed, rather than ended. As opposed to the previously required black vestments, the priest is now traditionally vested in white. However, black or violet vestments are still permitted. Texts such as "Dies Iræ" are no longer used. The Mass consists of the reception of the body at the church, liturgies of the word and Eucharist, and final committal. [cite web | title = Spiritual Guidance Order of Christian Funerals — Part II | publisher = Archdiocese of Milwaukee Catholic Cemeteries | year = 2007 | url = http://www.cemeteries.org/services0028.asp | accessdate = 2007-07-26]

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