Catholic Funeral

This hub is not about how to plan a Catholic funeral service but rather from the attendee's perspective on what to expect at a Catholic funeral mass. If you have a loved one or friend who has passed away and was of this denomination, chances are they will be having a Catholic funeral mass.

The Catholic funeral service is one of the more formal types of services. They have very specific rituals that are performed in a certain order. Let me share with you how it all begins. Most Catholics still prefer the traditional burial over cremation. When you receive a death notice for a funeral held in the Catholic church, you will be notified of a wake or visitation and also a funeral service date and time.

A wake or visitation will take place generally the night before the actual funeral mass. In this ceremony, close family and friends attend. It may be officiated by a member of the Lazarus ministry or by a priest. Generally, it is a representative of the ministry staff who are trained to assist the bereaved families and how to officiate the visitation.

The officiant will say some opening words, funeral readings from the Bible are read by appointed members of the family. The rosary is prayed with the group as well. The wake and visitation is held at the funeral home or chapel. The body is present and usually is viewable with an open casket.

This is a time when the family members can view the body, reflect on their loved ones and visit with other attendees for a time of encouragement. It is traditional the attendees wear conservative, dark clothing rather than bright attire. It represents a time of mourning and can be a sign of respect for the passing of the loved one.

At the end of the visitation, family and friends may be invited for a time of sharing with some words of reflection and encouragement about the deceased. When the wake or visitation has concluded, which is usually about a one and half hour ceremony.

I recently attended my grandmother's Catholic funeral service. At the conclusion of the wake, we encouraged each other and then took photos by our loved one's casket. It was really a time to say our goodbye's to her since the casket at the funeral mass is kept closed.

The funeral mass is given the next morning and officiated by a member of the clergy such as the parish priest. The mass opens as the pallbearers carry the casket down the isle and up to the front of the church sanctuary. The priest then follows a specific order of service for the mass. Designated members of the bereaved family give scripture readings as they did in the visitation. The priest gives a homily or message and communion is also served for those in the faith. For those who are not of the faith, the priest may ask that you come up to receive a blessing.

The priest will bless around the casket with prayers and incense as well as holy water. The immediate family be then called to come up around the casket for a final prayer with the priest. The mass is concluded as the pallbearers remove the casket out of the sanctuary and to the hearst or vehicle that will transport it to the gravesite.

The priest will also attend and officiate the gravesite service. It is a much shorter ceremony. In my grandmother's gravesite service, the priest said a few words, prayed, and then each of the attendees were given a flower to place upon the casket before it was lowered into the grave. It was the final moment before my grandmother would be laid to her eternal rest in the ground.

Generally, a Repast or reception will be held immediately following the gravesite service where family and attendees will meet, share a meal and convey condolences.