Funerals
A Catholic funeral can take place as part of a Mass, known as a Requiem Mass, or as a service which excludes the EucharistA service celebrating the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, using elements of bread and wine.. Traditionally a Catholic funeral is made up of three parts:
- vigil
- funeral liturgyThe structure of worship and the way mass is celebrated.
- committal
Vigil
The vigil is the first part of a Catholic funeral. It takes place between death and the funeral and can include the Reception of the Body. The Reception of the Body takes place the night before the funeral and consists of a short service where the body of the deceasedA dead person. is received into the Church and left there overnight. Sometimes families prefer to have the body received in the house or alternatively the Chapel of Rest.
Funeral liturgy
The funeral liturgy is the main part of a Catholic funeral and consists of four main parts:
- Introductory Rites – this includes the Greeting and Opening Prayer.
- Liturgy of the Word – this includes the Readings, Gospel and Homily.
- Liturgy of the Eucharist – this includes the Eucharistic prayer, the Lord’s Prayer and Holy Communion.
- commendationThe ritual of entrusting a dead body to the mercy of God. – this is when the deceased is commended into God’s hands and the casket is processed out of Church. The coffin will be sprinkled with Holy Water and blessed with incense.
Committal
The final part of the funeral is the committalThe act of burying of a dead body.. This takes place at the cemeteryA graveyard. or the crematoriumA specially designed building with different sections for funeral ceremonies and the burning of bodies.. It will include the final prayer and blessing.