During this special time of year, the Church turns our attention to the souls of our beloved dead and encourages us to pray for them, asking the Lord to forgive their sins and admit them to the blessings of Eternal Life.
November seems an appropriate time, therefore, for some reflection upon the Church's teaching and practice with regard to the funeral rites which Catholics ought to provide for their deceased loved ones.
It seems that, in recent years, there is a small but growing trend among some Catholics and some Priests (sadly) to omit the traditional Catholic funeral rites in favor of a prayer service at the funeral home or at a private graveside service.
While there may sometimes be extraordinary circumstances which render the celebration of the Funeral Mass absolutely impossible, grieving family members are reminded and encouraged to observe and celebrate the Catholic Funeral Liturgy in its entirety.
The Church considers the rites contained within The Order of Christian Funerals to be normative, that is, binding upon the Catholic faithful who have experienced the death of a loved one whose soul is to be entrusted to the merciful judgment of Almighty God and whose body is to be treated with respectful disposition.
Three separate and sequential rituals form the structure of the Catholic Funeral Liturgy. These are: (1) the Vigil for the Deceased, commonly referred to as the Wake; (2) the Mass of Christian Burial; and (3) the Rite of Committal.
Even though they are valuable expression of faith which often give comfort and reassurance during times of sorrow, the Rosary and other cultural traditions and customs are never to replace the proper celebration of the Catholic funeral rite.
Central to the observance of Catholic practice is the Funeral Mass itself. For Catholics, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is both the source and the summit of our faith. When Mass is celebrated on the occasion of death, it is understood to be the fullest expression of trust in the Lord's mercy and forgiveness, hope in the resurrection, and the love that God has for us which is never extinguished, not even by death itself.
The Catholic Funeral Mass is the perfect prayer which the living offer for the repose of the soul of their deceased loved ones.
Catholic family members who make decisions about funeral services for their loved ones should rightfully consider their wishes and make the right choice to celebrate the Funeral Liturgy in its entirety.
How sad whenever those who may have abandoned the practice of their faith deprive their parents or other family members the beauty of the Funeral Mass. I have personally been witness to such situations, especially in the case of elderly Catholic parents who practiced their Catholic faith all their lives only to have their children opt for services which exclude the celebration of the Funeral Mass. What a sadness and what a shame!
Priests ought to encourage family members to celebrate the Funeral Mass, for the Eucharist helps heal the sorrow that comes from the loss of their deceased loved one. The Mass of Christian Burial may well be the most special moment of grace for those who mourn.
In our secular society today, there is a growing myth that funerals take place "for the living". In my experience as a Pastor, I encountered the idea that funeral services are meant to bring "closure" to the grieving, a nonsensical idea that those who loved their deceased family member or friend so deeply can move on quickly from the sense of emptiness and loneliness that accompanies death.
The Catholic Funeral Rites can be a source of great comfort for the living, but they are intended to offer the faithful departed the power of prayerful intercession to Almighty God for merciful judgment and blessed eternal repose.
In union with all of sinful humanity, Catholics face the sadness that comes with death. But we do so with sacred rites which respect and preserve our Catholic heritage and values.
Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life. He has conquered sin and death . These truths are most fittingly proclaimed in the Catholic Funeral Mass and the attendant rites which form The Order of Christian Funerals.
May we honor our beloved dead by offering the Funeral Mass for the repose of their souls. May we have Masses offered for their intentions and the intentions of all the Faithful Departed throughout the year, especially on the anniversary of their deaths or on other dates and times which our memories hold dear.
I encourage Catholics to see to it that their wishes for the proper celebration of their funerals be clearly stated in writing, directing those whom they charge with their arrangements see to it that the Funeral Liturgy of the Church be fully celebrated for their intentions. Conversely, I admonish family members to be mindful of the serious obligation that is their to honor the wishes of their loved ones regarding their funerals.
During this month of November, let us pray for our deceased family members and friends. May their souls and the souls of all the Faithful Departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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