funeral rite

• 3 types of funeral rite offered by the church

  • vigil of the deceased
  • the main funeral liturgy
  • the rite committal
• what happens in the vigil of the deceased?

  coffin visited by friends and family at home or church

  bible readings, reflection and prayer
• what happens in the main funeral liturgy?

  • placed in church
  • prayers over dead with funeral mass
  • coffin incensed, sprinkled with water
  • prayers and chants
• what does cardinal vincent nicholl encourage?

  the main funeral liturgy as it includes eucharist`

  encourages people to prepare for funeral whilst alive to help family cope
• what happens in the rite of committal?

  • at cemetery or crematorium
  • priest says prayers over deceased to say farewell
  • bible read
  • coffin sprinkled holy water
  • coffin lowered to ground as eternal rest
• what are the aims of funeral rite?

  • everyone prays to help dead person in their journey to after life
  • helps church community remember they are still connected with deceased
  • helps congregation remember all have eternal life
• catechism quote about prayers helping dead persons journey after life

  when we receive eucharist at funeral mass and pray for them we are in communion with them
• catechism quote to show we are still connected to deceased

  we're temporarily separated, but we all run the same course and will find one another again in the same place
• catechism quote to show we all have eternal life

  its a chance for us to remember that christians who die are away from their body and at home with the lord