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Readings for Funerals
By Eddie Tobey
Funeral services often include prayers, readings from
the Bible or other sacred texts, the signing of hymns or
words of comfort by the clergy. Sometimes, a relative or
a close friend is also asked to give a eulogy detailing
the happy memories and achievements of the deceased.
Readings and speeches at the funeral service provide
comfort and courage for family and friends mourning the
death of a loved one.
Readings are often customary, and are part of the
funeral ceremony to provide deeper consolation and
strength to the immediate kin of the deceased. At the
Mass for a Catholic burial one can read from the Sacred
Scriptures of the Old Testament, the New Testament or
for the various Gospels. Some of the famous readings
are, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" from the Book of
Job 19:1, 23-27; "He Accepted Them As A Holocaust" from
the Book of Wisdom 3:1-9 or 3:1-6. 9; "It Is Good And
Holy To Think Of The Dead Rising Again" from the second
book of Maccabees 12:43-46, "Rejoice And Be Glad, For
Your Reward Will Be Great In Heaven" from the Gospel of
St. Matthew 5:1-12; or "Young Man, I Say To You, Arise"
from the Gospel of St. Luke 7:11-17.
A friend can also recite a poem during a eulogy to
express his deepest thoughts and feelings, and the right
poem, whether ancient or modern, will provide some
comfort to the deceased family. However, the poems
should be appropriate for the occasion and short enough
to be read at a funeral or memorial service.
Reading scriptures during funeral services proclaims the
meaning that Christ himself gave to death, teach us to
remember the dead and nourish our hope of being together
again in God's kingdom. Readings give a deceased family
hope to be re-united with their loved ones, and are an
important part of a funeral rite.
Readings or poems recited during funerals truly express
the sad bereavement sentiments and comfort the immediate
family members of the departed soul.
Funerals provides detailed information on Funerals,
Presidential Funerals, Military Funerals, Readings for
Funerals and more. Funerals is affiliated with Golden
Caskets [http://www.caskets-web.com]. |
