Order of Christian Funerals
“In the face of death, the Church confidently proclaims that God has created each person for eternal life and that Jesus, the Son of God, by his death and resurrection, has broken the chains of sin and death that bound humanity” (
Order of Christian Funerals, #1).
The revised funeral rites offer three distinct and important rituals to assist the grieving families to move through the various stages of grief following the death of a loved one.
- Gathering in the Presence of the Body – this rite is a prayer that can be used when the family first gathers in the presence of the body, before or after it has been prepared for burial. It is most often done prior to the beginning of a wake, and is an opportunity for the family to acknowledge the reality of their loved one’s death.
- Vigil – this occurs in the time following the death and before the funeral liturgy. In the vigil the Christian community keeps watch with the family in prayer and finds strength in Christ’s presence. The community turns to God as the source of their hope and peace. It is most often a Liturgy of the Word, with an opportunity to share stories and favorite memories of the deceased.
- Funeral Liturgy – this is the principal liturgical celebration of the Christian community for the deceased. The community give praise to God for Christ’s victory over sin and death, and commends the deceased to God’s tender mercy. The rite can be done within a mass, or can be a simpler Liturgy of the Word, with final commendation and farewell.