Category Archives: Order of Christian Funerals

Funeral Lectionary: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Posted on 7 September 2019 by

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 →

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Funeral Lectionary: 2 Timothy 1:9-10

Posted on 2 September 2019 by

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

Posted on 30 August 2019 by

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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Top British Funeral Songs

Posted on 24 May 2019 by

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 →

Posted in Commentary, Music, Order of Christian Funerals | 1 Comment

Human Composting

Posted on 17 January 2019 by

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

Posted on 12 July 2018 by

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 | 2 Comments

Funeral Lectionary: Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23

Posted on 5 July 2018 by

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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