Catholic Funeral Rites

Published: 06/21/2010 by Funeral Home Resource Team

Catholic Funeral Traditions and Rites

A Catholic funeral, like all funerals, is a time of sadness and mourning for the deceased. But as with most Christian faiths, there is a joy and acknowledgment that the death begins a new life – one in heaven with Christ and eternal life.

Catholic Funeral rites historically include:
• Vigil Service celebrated in the funeral home or the church
• Funeral Liturgy (in the church)
• Rite of Committal of the body at the cemetery

Some Catholics will choose to have traditional Roman Catholic Funeral Services as opposed to funeral services from a funeral home. A priest and other church figures will minister to the grieving friends and family in whatever ways are needed.

The Catholic Funeral Vigil
The Catholic vigil is a prayer service, usually held the evening before the funeral. Family and friends of the deceased will gather for a service at the funeral home or in the church. The vigil includes a prayer for both the deceased and for the grieving family.

The Catholic Funeral Liturgy
The Eucharist is almost always performed during Catholic Funeral Services. This is the ceremony at the center of the Catholic faith - the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Prayers and hymns also plays a prominent role in the Catholic funeral service.

Interment
Burial is generally chosen for internment during Catholic Funerals. Catholics believe that the body is ‘the temple of the Lord' and treat it with great reverence.

Cremation
While the Catholic Church did not used to accept cremation as a form of disposition, the Church today does allow and accept cremation. The 1983 Code of Canon Law (1176. 3) now reads, “The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burial be retained; but it does not forbid cremation, unless this is chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teaching.”

First Preference: Funeral rites with the Body present
• The Catholic Church prefers that the body of the deceased be present for the Vigil Service.
• The Rite of Committal of the body normally takes place at the cemetery although the committal can be done at the end of the Funeral Mass.

Second Preference: Funeral rites with the body present and cremation afterwards
• If cremation is selected, the Church recommends that the cremation take place after the Funeral Liturgy
• After cremation, the cremated remains should be committed for burial according to the Order of Christian Funerals. The cremated remains should be treated with the same respect given to the human body. Therefore, they should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium (but not a common/communal columbarium).