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                                                    St. Michael’s , Gastonia – Funeral Rites Information


Date ________________________

Name _______________________ Phone Number______________

Date of Birth _________________ Date of Death _______________

Name of person who will be in charge of arrangements ______________

Phone Number ________________________________

1. RITE OF THE VIGIL FOR THE DECEASED (WAKE)

Vigil Date and Time _____________ (Invite everyone, publish the time)/

At Home? ________________________________ or

Name & Location of Funeral Home __________________________

Phone Number ________________ Rosary? _________

Music (sacred music only___________ Who provides?__________

Reflections or Eulogy? (only at Wake)______ By Whom?_________
(must be written – given to priest day before)

II. RITE OF THE MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL

Date of Mass of Christian Burial: (No Sunday Masses) ___________

Time: 8:15 AM ____ or 10:30 Am ____ or 7:00 PM ___ (not Sat or Sun)

Order of Holy Mass of Christian Burial
(All music is provided by Parish Music Director and Parish Organist.

You may choose hymns as below. We do not use recorded music at Holy Mass. Other musicians may provide music at the Vigil for the Deceased and/or the cemetery. No eulogies are given at Mass.)

Introductory Rites
Reception of the Body at the rear of the Church
Greeting and Introduction
Sprinkling of the Body with Holy Water
Placing of the Pall (family members may assist the priest)
Placing of Christian Symbols (optional no other symbols may be used)

Procession Hymn: (Choose from Parish list) _______________
Opening Prayer (Priest)
Liturgy of the Word (Lectors must be practicing Catholics)

Old Testament Reading: ______________

Read by:__________________

Responsorial Psalm (sung by Parish cantor)
New Testament Reading: _____________

Ready by: ________________

Gospel Acclamation (sung by Parish cantor)
Gospel Reading ______________

Ready by Deacon or Priest
Homily (Priest or Deacon)
Prayer of the Faithful Read by the Deacon or Priest
Liturgy of the Eucharist

Offertory Hymn: (Choose from Parish List) ______________

Presentation of the Gifts: (name 2 people) _______________
Eucharistic Prayer (with sung acclamations)
The Our Father and the Sign of Peace
Lamb of God
Holy Communion

Communion Hymn: (Choose from Parish List) ____________
Prayer after Communion
Final Commendation
Procession to the Place of Committal

Recessional Hymn: (Choose from Parish List) _____________

III. RITE OF COMMITTAL (at the cemetery)

Name and location of Cemetery _________________

Music? _________________ Who provide? ________

Reflections or Eulogy? (only at Wake)___By Whom? _______
(written – given to priest day before)

Would you like a meal after the Burial? _________

Where? _________________________________

No. of guests_______________________

Sacred Scriptures for the Mass of Christian Burial
Old Testament Reading: Can be read by practicing Catholic
1. Job 19: 23-27 – I know that my Redeemer lives.
2. Wisdom 3: 1-9- The souls of the just are in the hand of God – He accepted them as a holocaust
3. Wisdom 4: 7-15 – A blameless life is a ripe old age.
4. Isaiah 25: 6a, 7-9 – On this mountain, the Lord will provide. The Lord God will destroy death forever.
5. Lamentations 3:17-26 – It is good to wait in silence for the Lord God to save.
6. Daniel 12 1-3 – Of those who lie sleeping in the dust of the earth many will awake.
7. 2 Maccabees 12: 43-46 – It is good and holy to think of the dead rising again.
Psalms: (sung by the parish cantor – you may suggest a Psalm)
New Testament Readings: Can be read by a practicing Catholic
1. Acts 10: 34-43 – God has appointed Jesus to judge everyone, alive and dead.
2. Romans 5; 5-11 – Hope does not disappoint; Having been justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s anger through him.
3. Romans 5: 17-21 – Where sin increased, there grace abounded all the more.
4. Romans 6: 3-9 – Let us walk in newness of life.
5. Romans 8: 14-23 – We grow while we wait for the redemption of our bodies.
6. Romans 8: 31b-39 – Who can ever come between us and the love of Christ?
7. Romans 14: 7-9, 10b-12 – Whether alive or dead, we belong to the Lord.
8. 1 Corinthians 15: 20-28 – All people will be brought to life in Christ.
9. 1 Corinthians 15: 51-57 – Death is swallowed up in victory.
10. 2 Corinthians 4: 14 – 5: 1 – What is seen is transitory; what is unseen is eternal.
11. 2 Corinthians 5: 1, 6-10 – We have an everlasting home in heaven.
12. Philippians 3: 20-21 – Jesus will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours to be like his glorious body.
13. 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-18 – We shall stay with the Lord for ever.
14. 2 Timothy 2: 8-13 – If we have died with him, we shall live with him.
15. 1 John 3: 1-2 – We shall see God as he really is.
16. 1 John 3: 14-16 – We have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers and sisters.
17. Revelation 14: 13 – Happy are those who die in the Lord.
18. Revelation 20: 11 – 21: 1 – The dead have been judged according to their works.
19. Revelation 21: 5a, 6b-7- There will be no more death.

Gospel Readings: Read by Deacon or Priest
1. Matthew 5: 1-12 – The Beatitudes – Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
2. Matthew 11: 25-30 – Come to me and I will give you rest.
3. Matthew 25: 1-13 – Look, the bridegroom comes. Go out to meet him,
4. Matthew 25: 31-46 – Come, you whom my Father has blessed.
5. Mark 15: 33-39 – Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.
6. Luke 7: 11-17 – Young one, I say to you, arise.
7. Luke 12: 35-40 – Be prepared.
8. Luke 23: 33, 39-43 – Today you will be with me in paradise. (The death on the cross)
9. Luke 23: 44-46, 50, 52-53, 24: 1-6a – Father, I put my life in your hands.
10. Luke 24: 13-35 – The Emmaus Story – Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?
11. John 5: 24-29 – Whoever hears my word and believes has passed from death to life.
12. John 6: 37-40 – All who believe in the Son will have eternal life and I will raise them to live again on the last day.
13. John 6: 51-58 – All who eat this bread will live for ever, and I will raise them on the last day,
14. John 11: 17-27 – I am the resurrection and the life.
15. John 11: 32-45 – Lazarus, come out.
16. John 12: 23-28 – If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a harvest.
17. John 14: 1-6 – There are many rooms in my Father’s house.
18. John 17: 24-26 – Father, I want those you have given to me to be with me where I am.
19. John 19: 17-18, 25-30 – Jesus bowed his head and gave up is spirit.

St. Michael’s, Gastonia – Selection for Music for Mass of Christian Burial Processional
Com Christians Join to Sing
I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say
At The Name of Jesus
God’s Holy Mountain We Ascend
Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones
Eternal Father, Strong To Save (military)
Alleluia, Sing to Jesus
Merciful Savior, Hear Our Humble Prayer
Songs of Praise the Angels Sang
Offertory
Parable
The Lord Is My Light
The King Of Love My Shepherd Is
What Wondrous Live Is This
As The Deer Longs
Eternal Father, Strong To Save (military)
Holy Communion
One Loved Released
When We Eat This Bread
Panis Angelicus – Lambillotte (composer)
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
O Lord, I Am Not Worthy
Soul Of My Savior
Let Thy Blood and Mercy Poured
Where Charity and Love Prevail
Gift of Finest Wheat
Meditation
Ave Maria – Franz Schubert Pie Jesu – Gabriel Faure
Recessional
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Three
The Day of Resurrection
At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing
The Strife Is O’er
Jerusalem My Happy Home
I Know That My Redeemer Lives
The Eternal Gifts of Christ the King
O God Beyond All Praising
Music for funerals should also consider the liturgical season in which they are sung.
Some Hymns would not be appropriate during Lent