Alternate texts for the Rite of Committal are given in these pages. In OCF 405, four alternate blessings for a tomb or grave are given. I might hope a priest would choose option 3 for my body’s final resting place, which begins:
Almighty God,
you created the earth
and shaped the vault of heaven;
you fixed the stars in their places.When we were caught in the snares of death
you set us free through baptism …
Or use option 2 for a child:
O God,
by whose mercy the faithful departed find rest,
bless this grave,
and send your holy angel to watch over it …
OCF 406 gives four alternate forms of committal, including one for burial at sea.
In #407, the rite give two alternative forms for intercessions. The first is heavily biblical, alluding to Christ’s “I am the resurrection …” and also Lazarus and his sisters, the repentant thief, and alluding to his healing miracles raising people from death. Three options for a concluding prayer are given in OCF 408.
