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Category Archives: Order of Christian Funerals
Office for the Dead
Some days ago, a commentator asked about the Office for the Dead. We blogged extensively on the funeral rites almost ten years ago. It seems that while I devoted a number of posts to the praenotanda, or instruction from the … Continue reading
Posted in Liturgy, Order of Christian Funerals
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Funeral Lectionary: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Corresponding with my friend John Donaghy, deacon and missionary, he shared the readings he selected for his funeral. The passage from the second Corinthian letter isn’t in the funeral lectionary, but I think it’s a good inclusion. I asked John … Continue reading
Funeral Lectionary: 2 Timothy 1:9-10
I had another recent funeral in which the family went off the page (but stayed in the Book) to find a reading that they felt was suitable for a father’s funeral. Some Catholic clergy and liturgists get the yips on … Continue reading
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Funeral Lectionary: Psalm 16: 1-2, 7-11
I had an experience with the funeral of a choir spouse recently. The family requested Psalm 16, and specifically Scott Soper’s fine setting. OCP’s editors place it in their annual missal in the Psalter. The antiphon is a bit long … Continue reading
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Human Composting
I heard this bit on a local NPR station the other day, sort of a trial balloon on human composting. Some interesting bits: The human composting … involves placing bodies in vessels where they can be covered in wood chips … Continue reading
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Funeral Lectionary: Psalm 93
Well over seven years ago, we blogged on section 347 of the Order of Christian Funerals (OCF). A whole passel of texts sit there outside the Lectionary proper, which, according to the Church, may be “chosen for use in various … Continue reading
Posted in Order of Christian Funerals, Scripture
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Funeral Lectionary: Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23
At Mass this past weekend, the first reading stood out for me. At funerals, I think most people don’t absorb the entire passage being read. Even if it’s read well. Most often a key phrase might stick in the mind. … Continue reading
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Funeral Purple
Friend and once-contributor John Donaghy sent me two images of a stole he uses for funerals. His report from Honduras: Here most of the priests use purple, though the bishop wore white for the funeral of a priest two years … Continue reading
CDF on Cremation
A universal document for cremation up at the Vatican today. Interesting, but not surprisingly this comes from the CDF and not the liturgy office, CDWDS. Reason being, it contains important teaching (already mostly covered by the USCCB in their documentation) … Continue reading
On Tributes and Eulogies
My wife says the best EWTN programming is broadcast in the wee hours. She leans to saints and spirituality. She finds a lot of rich material there. Our cable provider doesn’t include EWTN in its package, at least on the … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, Liturgy, Order of Christian Funerals
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Funeral Lectionary: Psalm 23:1-3, 4, 5, 6
One of the most-loved passages in all of the world’s sacred Scriptures. The funeral lectionary version, given below, is significantly different from the RNAB version on which it is based. An expert on the inner workings on translations and preparation … Continue reading
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Funeral Prayers
Image credit. One complaint from hard-core Catholics on funerals is that in the last half-century, the liturgy has become rather mushy on the topic of the last things. Admittedly, homilists get the brunt of this criticism, like here. Other criticism, … Continue reading
Posted in Order of Christian Funerals
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Funeral Lectionary: Sirach 6:14-17
Among many pastoral ministers, the entry of the eulogy into the funeral Mass is cause for much hand-wringing. The liturgy should focus on Christ. And the mercy and grace of God. The funeral isn’t a time to applaud a life … Continue reading
Posted in Order of Christian Funerals, Scripture
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Funeral Lectionary: Isaiah 65:17-19
My parish’s bereavement team hosts an annual liturgy and dinner for people who are mourning the loss of a loved one or friend. One of the readings they use strikes me as appropriate for a funeral. This is not one of … Continue reading
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Top British Funeral Songs
Joe McMahon sent me this link to a UK op-ed on funeral songs. From the Daily Mail, Tom Utley reports and comments: A survey this week by Co-op Funeralcare highlights one of the most profound social changes of my lifetime. In … Continue reading →