Catholic

• Purpose of Catholic funeral:

  To…

  • grieve for deceased person
  • celebrate love for them
  • find comfort in hope they have give to eternal life with God
• Symbolism - White cloth:

  Coffin is covered in white cloth as reminder of this person’s baptism, where white garment = symbol being cleansed from sin
• Symbolism - Holy water:

  Priest sprinkles this on coffin as reminder of this person’s baptism - beginning of their journey with Christ.
• Symbolism - Incense:

  Coffin has incense over it as a way of honouring the person - symbol of the prayers rising up to God.
• Bible often placed on top of coffin, reminder this person lived by teachings of Jesus and examples he set in Gospels.
• Cross often placed on coffin, reminder this person can receive eternal life through Jesus’ death on cross,and his resurrection when defeated death and brought salvation for all.
• Paschal candle often placed near coffin, reminder of belief in resurrection.
• Candles represent Jesus as ‘light of the world’ as he guides a path to heaven.
• Readings will be reminder of promise of resurrection and eternal life - they will be a declaration of hope and a comfort to those grieving.
• Priest will wear white vestments for funeral, as this is liturgical colour for resurrection and reminds people of Jesus’ resurrection and promise of eternal life.