The Funeral Mass

The Catholic funeral mass is very much like any other mass with a few key differences. Instead of beginning with a gathering song, a funeral begins with the priest processing from the altar to the casket or urn. He prays with the family there, in the presence of holy water and the Easter candle, recalling the person's baptism. The gathering song takes place after this, as the family processes to the front of church to their seats.

After everyone is in place, the mass proceeds as normal until after Communion. At this point, the priest prays the prayers of Final Commendation and the congregation sings a hymn that contains the words of "In Paradisum": May the angels lead you into paradise..."

In planning a funeral, the family is usually asked to choose the readings, the music, and the general intercessions. This form may help guide you through the process.

The Readings

The Church provides for us a selection of readings that are most reflective of the focus for a Catholic funeral. These readings focus on the resurrection of Christ and what that means for His followers. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops maintains a website that provides the text of the readings as well as the structure of the Liturgy of the Word.

The Music

Choosing the music for a funeral can be very difficult. Everyone involved will have their favorite songs, and there will also be a remembering of the favorite songs of the deceased. It might help to keep in mind that at this point in the three components of a Catholic funeral, the focus is on the resurrection. If there are favorite songs that do not reflect this focus, one idea would be to place them during the Vigil, as a reflective part of the eulogy.

There are usually four hymns during a funeral liturgy, plus a psalm. While some parishes allow the family to choose the Final Commendation music, others use the same setting of In Paradisum for every funeral. In addition to the four hymns, you may be able to specify a song for prelude (before the funeral).

Rather than spend much time deciding which hymn goes in a specific spot in a liturgy (Gathering Song, Preparation of the Gifts, Communion, Final Hymn), I recommend leaving that decision to the musician who will place the hymns depending on text, tone, and song length.

Song Suggestions

These are songs that are popular in my own parish.

All Is Well with My Soul
Be Not Afraid
Because the Lord Is My Shepherd
Blest Are They
Eye Has Not Seen
For All the Saints
Fly Like a Bird
Give Me Jesus
How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place
I Am the Bread of Life
I Heard the Voice of Jesus
I Know That My Redeemer Lives (Soper)
I Received the Living God
In Every Age
Keep in Mind
Lead Me, Lord
Like a Shepherd
O Loving God (Tune: Danny Boy)
On Eagle’s Wings
Only in God
Only This I Want
Prayer of St. Francis
Psalm 16: The Path of Life
Psalm 23 ("God alone may lead my spirit...")
Psalm 23: My Shepherd Is the Lord (Gelineau)
Psalm 23: Shepherd Me, O God
Psalm 25: I Lift Up My Soul
Psalm 27: The Goodness of the Lord
Psalm 27: The Lord Is My Light
Psalm 42/43: As the Deer Longs
Psalm 63: My Soul Is Thirsting (Guimont)
Psalm 84: How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place
Psalm 90: In Every Age
Psalm 91: Be with Me, Lord
Psalm 103: The Lord Is Kind and Merciful (Dufford)
Psalm 116: In the Presence of God
Psalm 122: Let Us Go Rejoicing (Hurd)
Psalm 130: Out of the Depths
Shall We Gather at the River
Shelter Me, O God
Shepherd Me, O God
Sing with All the Saints in Glory
Song of Farewell (OLD HUNDREDTH) (Used for Final Commendation)
Song of Farewell (Sands)
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
There Is a Longing
This Alone
Unless a Grain of Wheat (B. Farrell)
Unless a Grain of Wheat (Hurd)
We Will Rise Again
You Are Mine
You Are Near

General Intercessions

Below I've listed the most common intercessions, although there is some leeway and many families write their own based on the ideas presented here.

Funeral Mass General Intercessions

General Intercessions A

In baptism _____________ received the light of Christ.
Scatter the darkness now and lead him/her over the waters of death. We pray to the Lord: (Response: Lord, hear our Prayer)
Our brother/sister ________________ was nourished at the table of
the Savior. Welcome him/her into the halls of the heavenly banquet. We pray to the Lord:
Many friends and members of our families have gone before us
and await the kingdom. Grant them an everlasting home with your Son. We pray to the Lord:
Many people die by violence, war, and famine each day. Show your
mercy to those who suffer so unjustly these sins against your love,
and gather them to the eternal kingdom of peace. We pray to the Lord:
Those who trusted in the Lord now sleep in the Lord.
Give refreshment, rest, and peace to all whose faith is known
to you alone. We pray to the Lord:
The family and friends of ______________ seek comfort and
consolation. Heal their pain and dispel the darkness and doubt that come from grief. We pray to the Lord:

Presider: concluding prayer ---------------------
(reader remains in place until the concluding prayer is finished)

General Intercessions B

For ______________ who in baptism was given the pledge of eternal
life, that he/she may now be admitted to the company of the saints. We pray to the Lord:
For our brother/sister who ate the body of Christ, the bread of life,
that he/she may be raised up on the last day. We pray to the Lord:
For our deceased relatives and friends and for all who have helped us,
that they may have the reward of their goodness.
We pray to the Lord:
For those who have fallen asleep in the hope of rising again, that they
may see God face to face. We pray to the Lord:
For the family and friends of our brother/sister ______________,
that they may be consoled in their grief by the Lord, who wept at the death of his friend Lazarus. We pray to the Lord:
For all of us assembled here to worship in faith, that we may be
gathered together again in God's kingdom. We pray to the Lord:

Presider: concluding prayer ---------------------

(reader remains in place until the concluding prayer is finished)