Catholic Funeral

Published: 04/05/2010 by Funeral Home Resource Team

A Catholic Funeral is the funeral rite in use in the Roman Catholic Church. Catholic funerals can 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.

When a death occurs, the church parish may be contacted before a funeral home is called. Some Catholics will opt out of conventional funeral home services in favor of Roman Catholic services.
There are three main parts of a Catholic Funeral:

1. The Vigil or Wake.
In the Catholic Church, time is set aside to provide for a "Vigil" or "Wake" service. The purpose of the Wake is to help those who are grieving to put the life and death of the deceased into the context of his or her faith. Often times at the Wake, the priest, deacon, pastoral associate or someone from the parish bereavement ministry will take time with family members to discuss particulars and family participation in the Funeral Liturgy that generally follows on the next day.

2. Funeral Liturgy or Mass.
For Catholics one of the most comforting aspects of a Funeral Liturgy is that it takes place within the fabric of a normal Mass celebration. For practicing Catholics there can be real comfort in the familiar rhythm of mass celebration and the reciting of prayers that echo back through years of shared mass celebrations, possibly some shared even with the deceased. Moments of peace can come from something as simple as making the familiar sign of the cross or sharing the sign of peace.

3. Rite of Committal (Burial).
For those who do gather for the Committal a church leader will offer a brief bit of scripture, intercessions and prayers on behalf of the deceased. Words of comfort to those present may also be shared. For Catholics, burial ground is sacred because it is the spot where those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith await the resurrection of their body that is so much a part of our Christian faith. The celebrant who represents the Christian community at the Committal is often a priest, but can also be a Deacon or a member of the Bereavement ministry.
Most Catholics will choose the traditional burial as opposed to cremation. This is largely because cremation is still controversial within Catholic circles (especially among conservative, Orthodox Catholics). However, the Church does allow and accept cremation. If there is any dispute, 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.”

According to Catholic Law, burial rites are to be refused to the following, unless the deceased gave some sign of repentance before death:

1. Persons well known to be guilty of apostasy, heresy or schism;
2. Those who asked to be cremated for anti-Christian motives;
3. Manifest sinners, if the granting of Church funeral rites to them would cause scandal to Catholics.