CELEBRATING A CHRISTIAN FUNERAL

1. The full celebration of the Christian funeral consists of three principal stations or parts: [1] a wake or vigil at the funeral home or home of the deceased; [2] the celebration of the Eucharist or Word in the Parish church; [3] and burial in a cemetery. Accompanying each of these parts is a prayer service or liturgy: [1] a Vigil Service for the Deceased at the funeral home; [2] the Funeral Liturgy in the church; and [3] the Rite of Committal and Burial at the cemetery. Whenever possible, the celebration of all three rites in the presence of the body of the deceased is highly recommended.

2. It is the responsibility of the parish priest, in consultation with the family and friends of the deceased to select the prayers, readings and ritual elements appropriate to the particular needs of the mourners.

3. These rites help the family, friends and Christian community to enter into the process of grieving. The act of grieving includes the acceptance of the reality of death, the expression of sadness at the loss of a loved one, the out-pouring of love for the deceased, the gathering of a family and community around the bereaved, and the expression of faith and hope in the resurrection of Jesus.

4. The denial or masking of the reality of death is often a natural reaction or tendency in the face of death. The death of a loved one brings pain and anguish, but this pain and anguish needs to be embraced and felt and lived if those left behind are to begin the process of healing and recovery. To deny the reality of death is to do real harm to the bereaved, in physical, spiritual and emotional terms.

5. In death the Christian lives the final stage of the paschal mystery that was begun at baptism. Death is the final offering of the person totally and completely to God. It is the final act of transformation into the image of Jesus. 6. The death of a Christian is not an isolated event. Death happens in the midst of a circle of family and relatives, friends and acquaintances; it also takes place within a community of believers. These surround the deceased in a spirit of love and support for the bereaved and each other. Thus the importance of the three main services or rites for the living should be stressed in the planning of funerals in order that the family and Christian community may have time to face the reality of death and draw hope and comfort in their time of sorrow. The aim of the Christian Funerals is to provide consolation for the family and community as well as to provide an expression of the community's faith in God and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

7. Especially important is the role of the wake or vigil for the deceased in the process of Christian burial. In a

society that prizes expediency, there is a growing trend to omit the wake and proceed immediately to the funeral liturgy. The opportunity for family, friends and the Christian community to gather to remember the life of the deceased, express grief and offer comfort and consolation should be emphasized and valued as part of the ministry of Christ that the Church offers to the bereaved. Often the wishes of the deceased do not foresee the need for the family, immediate and extended, and for friends to face the reality of death, begin the process of grieving and healing, and experience consolation. The wake or vigil is an important moment in the pastoral care for the living.

8. The Christian belief in eternal life and the resurrection of the body has traditionally found expression in the care taken to prepare the bodies of the deceased for burial. The prayers and gestures of the funeral rites likewise affirm the Church's reverence for the bodies of its deceased members as temples of the life-giving Spirit. The long-standing practice of burying the body of the deceased in a grave or tomb in memory of Jesus whose own body was placed in a tomb continues to be encouraged as a sign of Christian faith.

9. After death the body of the deceased is honoured by the use of holy water and incense, and the coffin is covered with a white pall (cloth), because it was created in the image of God, was washed in the waters of baptism, conformed to the image of Christ and anointed as the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Cremation

10. Christian funeral rites may be celebrated for persons who have chosen to have their bodies cremated, unless it is evident that they have acted for reasons which are contrary to the Christian way of life. Cremation should normally take place following the celebration of the funeral liturgy.

11. The ashes of the deceased should be treated with the same reverence that is given to the body of the deceased (see no. 8). The ashes should be placed in a secure vessel that will preserve the integrity of the ashes, and they should be reverently buried or entombed in a place reserved for the burial of the dead as soon as possible after cremation. Liturgical rites should not accompany any other method of disposal of the ashes.

12. When the human body is cremated, the body created by and in the image of God, washed in the waters of baptism and anointed by the Spirit no longer exists. Therefore, it is not appropriate to use holy water, incense or the white pall after the cremation of the body. Thus the ashes are never sprinkled with holy water, or incensed or covered with the white pall. Nevertheless, the ashes are to be treated with the same dignity and respect as the body of the deceased and are to be buried in a cemetery.

13. Since the body is the creation of God, was washed in the waters of baptism, was anointed by the Spirit and was nourished at the table of the Lord, the body of the deceased is sprinkled with holy water, is incensed and is covered with a white pall. When the human body is cremated, the body created by and in the image of God, no longer exists, therefore, holy water, incense or the white pall are not used for the ashes.

Picture of the deceased

14. In Canada it is often the custom of placing a picture of the deceased near the vessel of ashes at the funeral home. Often this custom is requested for the funeral liturgy in the church. In the church large pictures or ostentatious displays should be avoided. Large displays should be confined to the back of the church or the vestibule or atrium, possibly placed near a book of condolence. A discrete or small picture may be placed on the table containing the vessel of the ashes. In all cases, the body or ashes of the deceased must not obscure the focus of the celebration on the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ and the action of God in the assembly.

15. In some cases it may be necessary for cremation to take place before to the funeral liturgy. These occasions include:

16. When a body is cremated, the signs of farewell (holy water and incense) are omitted.

a) the body of the deceased was buried immediately or shortly after death

b) the body of the deceased was donated to science or medical research

c) the body of the deceased was not found or was destroyed in death.

In this case, the family may gather for a prayer service, using one of the forms found in the vigil service. A picture of the deceased may be placed on a table with some flowers and a candle. The funeral Mass is celebrated as indicated in the supplement; however, the final commendation and farewell is omitted, and the blessing and dismissal are given as usual following the prayer after communion.

17. When cremation takes place before the funeral liturgy normally, the burial of the ashes will take place before the celebration of the funeral liturgy. Following the burial, the family and friends of the deceased gather for the funeral liturgy.

Funeral liturgy when the ashes are present

18. By virtue of an indult granted by the Congregation for Divine Worship (prot. no. 99/18, December 3, 1984) the celebration of the funeral liturgy --including the eucharist-- when the ashes of the deceased are present is permitted in Canada under the following conditions:

a. That the cremation is not inspired by motives contrary to Christian teaching, according to the Code of Canon Law, no. 1176, 3.

b. That each ordinary will judge whether it is pastorally proper to celebrate the liturgy for the dead, including the eucharist, with the ashes present, taking into account the concrete circumstances in each case, with respect for the spirit and content of the current canonical norms.

19. Only when particular circumstances and the pastoral judgment of the bishop recommend it, in an individual case, are the ashes to be present during the funeral liturgy. In this case, a small table covered with a white cloth is to be prepared either near the baptismal font or at the side of the sanctuary, or in another suitable place at the front of the church. The ashes, in a worthy vessel, are placed there before the liturgy begins. The ashes should not be placed on or near the altar, and the place chosen for them should be distinct from the place the body of the deceased usually occupies during the funeral liturgy. The paschal candle may be placed near the altar or ambo or near the table with the vessel of ashes.

20. After the people have assembled, the funeral Mass is celebrated as usual. The rite of greeting the body is omitted and the introductory rites of the Mass are celebrated as usual. A rite of sprinkling the assembly with holy water or a litany of praise or an invitation to prayer are provided in the supplement. Following the prayer after communion, the rite of final commendation takes place. The signs of farewell (holy water and incense) are omitted. Prayers which make reference to honouring or burying the body of the deceased are omitted in favour of the prayers provided in the supplement.

21. Similarly when the funeral liturgy outside Mass is celebrated, the rite of greeting the body is omitted. The introductory rites of the liturgy of the word are celebrated as usual and, following the Lord's Prayer, the rite of final commendation takes place. The signs of farewell (holy water and incense) are omitted.