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The Christian Mass Funeral Planning is
Important
By Mike Selvon
Funeral planning is often difficult when your mind is
swimming with so much grief and emotion. However,
keeping busy is the best thing you can do. Taking a
meaningful role in the funeral proceedings can be great
consolation to remaining friends and family members,
whether it's reading, reciting a memorial, leading the
prayers, carrying the casket, bringing up gifts,
planning the luncheon or selecting the songs.
When funeral planning, once you've decided upon
cremation or burial, you may choose an optional vigil,
if you so desire. The vigil is held the night before the
funeral mass in the church with scriptural readings,
prayers or rosary recitation.
Generally, vigils aren't necessary, but some extremely
devout Christians choose it because they believe in the
healing power of prayer. Other options to consider
include: wakes and viewings (scheduled through a funeral
home), a church mass, a graveside memorial mass, as well
as post-funeral luncheons.
During mass, the priest will say the Opening Prayer,
just like any normal mass. Afterwards, the Scriptural
Readings will begin. The church can point you to several
options that are meaningful and appropriate, while the
priest chooses a powerful Gospel.
Your first reading will be from the Hebrew Scriptures,
or Old Testament. Next there will be a Responsorial
Psalm (a popular one being "The Lord is my Shepherd").
The second reading is from one of the New Testament
letters.
Finally, the Gospel comes from Matthew, Mark, Luke or
John. To personalize the mass, friends or family members
are often called upon to do the first and second
readings. Make sure everyone is well-rehearsed to hold
their composure for the duration of the reading.
Next, the Father will give a homily about life, death,
life after death and the deceased. Sometimes a best
friend, spouse or family member gives a personal
reflection after the Gospel, ideally something light,
memorial and heart-felt.
Be sure to bring your tissues! Following the homily, the
Prayers of the Faithful are said for the family members
and friends. These can be written by family and friends,
said by family and friends, or said by parish members.
The gifts of bread and wine are brought forward by two
or more family members. This is the part of ceremony
that usually involves children in the family. You may
also choose a song (something soothing like "Ave
Maria").
The ancient Eucharistic prayer is said, the Greeting of
Peace is given and the ministers distribute Communion
like a normal mass. Even guests who have not received
the sacrament can approach the Father, with their arms
crossed over their hearts, to receive a blessing
instead. The mass then ends with incensing of the body
and closing prayers, before the casket is led out of the
church.
Once the mass has concluded, there is usually a
procession to the cemetery. In the funeral planning,
some families may decide to skip the mass altogether and
simply have a graveside service with a minister present,
with all prayers done over the grave site before
internment. Bagpipes are a powerful touch. Sometimes
flowers, such as roses or carnations are distributed to
all present to leave on top of the casket as a final
goodbye.
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