St. Mary Parish, Manchester at 210 West Main Street, Manchester, MI 48158 US - The Funeral Rites of the Roman Catholic Church

Every single Catholic forms a part of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church on earthly pilgrimage to the kingdom of God.  When a Catholic is in danger of death or in the process of dying it is vital that the family notify their parish priest immediately so that he can assist the dying person in their safe passage from this life to eternal life by the reception of the last sacraments.  The local pastor is the spiritual father of the parish family, he brings people into spiritual birth and regeneration through the waters of holy Baptism, he assist them through their earthly life by administering the other sacraments to them and at the end of this mortal life he is to be with his spiritual children to comfort them and to assist them in the most important moment of their life; the meeting of God face to face.

WHEN THE DEATH OF A CATHLIC OCCURS

When a Catholic dies the local pastor should be notified so that he can meet with the family of the deceased and discuss the Funeral Rites that are to be performed.  As in every other stage of Catholic life, the priest must make certain that the body of the deceased Catholic is treated with the utmost care and dignity for the body created in the image and likeness of God and was the temple of the Holy Spirit, made so through the waters of Baptism.  The Funeral Rites of the Roman Catholic Church form the final journey of the mortal remains of the Catholic to the grave, which because of the death and resurrection of Christ has become a sign of hope for all who believe in Him.  It is imperative that every single Roman Catholic that dies be given these sacred rites.

THE FUNERAL RITES:  THREE STAGES THAT FORM ONE LITURGY

The Funeral Rites of the Roman Catholic Church, revised in the United States in 1989, require that all three stages of the burial rites be observed for they form one liturgy and to leave out a piece is to distort the whole.  The three stages or stations of the Funeral Liturgy are:  the Vigil for the Deceased, the Funeral Mass, or Funeral Liturgy outside of Mass, and the Rite of Committal at the grave or tomb of the deceased.

THE VIGIL FOR THE DECEASED

In years past, before the Second Vatican Council, it had become a custom to pray the rosary the night prior to the Requiem Mass and burial of a Catholic.  In its reform of the sacred burial rites the Church returned to an ancient practice of beginning the Funeral Rites for the deceased the evening prior to the burial with a solemn vigil.  While the rosary may be prayed at the funeral home or place where the body of the deceased Catholic lies in state, the praying of the rosary is never to replace the Vigil Service, which is the official liturgy of the Church and ranks above the private devotion of the holy rosary. 

“The vigil may be celebrated in the home of the deceased, in the funeral home, parlor or chapel of rest, or in some other suitable place.  It may also be celebrated in the church, but at a time well before the funeral liturgy, so that the funeral liturgy will not be lengthy and the liturgy of the word repetitious.” #55 Order of Christian Funerals

“At the vigil the Christian community keeps watch with the family in prayer to the God of mercy and finds strength in Christ’s presence.  It is the first occasion among the funeral rites for the solemn reading of the word of God.  In this time of loss the family and community turn to God’s word as the source of faith and hope, as light and life in the face of darkness and death.  Consoled by the redeeming word of God and by the abiding presence of Christ and his Spirit, the assembly at the vigil calls upon the Father of mercy to receive the deceased into the kingdom of light and peace.” #56 Order of Christian Funerals

It is important to note that in a time when burial costs continue to soar that it is not required to have the body of our deceased loved ones lying in state at a funeral home.  The deceased may be in their own home, which was what was done up until the mid twentieth century.  It was and still is a very beautiful custom to have our deceased loved ones lying in state in their own home.  It is neither gruesome nor a macabre practice.    Many people are choosing cremation for the sole reason that it is less expensive.  There are other viable ways to reduce burial expenses without opting for cremation.  “Although cremation is now permitted by the Church, it does not enjoy the same value as burial of the body.  The Church clearly prefers and urges that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites, since the presence of the human body better expresses the values which the Church affirms in those rites.”  #413 Order of Christian Burial.