The Catholic Funeral is a "Bridge between Death and New Life". 

The Catholic Funeral Rites in the Order of Christian Funerals(1989) are celebrations that enable the Christian community to mourn as well as to hope by focusing on the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ. The Funeral Mass is ordinarily the central element of Catholic funerals.

The Funeral Mass is a prayer for God’s mercy for the deceased and a solace for the living, including the entire faith community. The Church encourages the burial of Catholics in Catholic cemeteries (Canon 1180.1). Burial in the consecrated ground of a Catholic cemetery is a sign of baptismal commitment and gives witness, even in death, to faith in Christ’s resurrection. 

Please use the links below to access the Funeral Worksheet, Readings, and Music.

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The lists of Scriptures below are appropriate for use at Catholic Funeral Liturgies. One reading is chosen from each: the Old Testament; the New Testament; and the Gospels. Choose from the readings listed and bring your selected readings to your meeting with the funeral presider.

Other Scripture passages can be presented to the presider for approval. Non-Scripture readings cannot be read in place of these readings, but could be used in the worship aides or through some other means.

Old Testament

2 Maccabees 12:43-46 "...he made atonement for the dead..." 
Job 19: 1, 23-27  "...I know that my vindicator lives...."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15  "...A time to be born, a time to die..."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8  "...A time to be born, a time to die..."
Wisdom 3:1-9 "...The souls of the just are in the hand of God..."
Wisdom 3:1-6,9  "...The souls of the just are in the hand of God..."
Wisdom 4:7-14  "The Righteous One, though he die early, shall be at rest..."
Sirach 2:1-11  "...in fire gold is tested....Compassionate is the Lord..."
Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9  "...he will destroy death forever..."
Isaiah 26:7-19  "...your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise..."
Isaiah 35:1-10 "...Here is your God, he comes with vindication..."
Isaiah 40:1-11  "...Here is your God, Here comes with power..."
Lamentations 3:17-26  "...My portion is the Lord, says my soul..."
Ezekiel 37:12-14  "O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise..."
Daniel 12:1-3  "...the wise shall shine brightly..."
Micah 7:7-9  "...though I sit in darkness, the Lord is my light..."
 

New Testament

Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43 "Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins"<
Acts of the Apostles 10:34-36,42-43  "Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins"
Romans 5:1,5-11  "...We were reconciled to God through the death of his Son..."
Romans 5:17-21  "...through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all..."
Romans 6:3-9  "...if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall live with him..."
Romans 6:3-4,8-9  "...if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall live with him..."
Romans 8:1-11  "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ..."
Romans 8:14-23  "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are Children of God"
Romans 8:31-35,37-39  "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Romans 14:7-9,10-12  "This is why Christ died and came to life"
1 Corinthians 2:6-10  "Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard..."
1 Corinthians 15:12-20  "If there is no resurrection of the dead..."
1 Corinthians 15:20-28  "In Adam all die, so too if Christ shall all be brought to life."
1 Corinthians 15:51-57  "Death where is your victory?"
2 Corinthians 4:14-5:1  "The one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us..."
2 Corinthians 5:1,6-10 "We would rather leave the body and go home..."
Philippians 3:7-14  "...I run toward the prize to which God calls me..."
Philippians 3:20-21  "He will change our lowly body..."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  "If we believe that Jesus died and rose..."
2 Timothy 2:8-13  "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead..."
2 Timothy 4:1-2,6-8  "I have competed well, I have finished the race..."
1 John 3:1-2  "Beloved, we are God's children now..."
1 John 3:14-16 "We know that we have passed from death to life..."
Revelation 14:13 "...Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord..."
Revelation 20:11-12:1 "...The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades..."
Revelation 21:1-5a,6b-7 "...I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem..."

Gospels

Matthew 5:1-12a  "The Eight Beatitudes"
Matthew 11:25-30  "come to me . . . and I will give you rest."
Matthew 25:1-13  "Look. The bridegroom comes. Go out to meet him"
Matthew 25:31-46  "Come, you whom my Father has blessed"
Mark 15:33-39  "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Mark 15:33, 16:6  "Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last"
Luke 7:11-17  "Young man, I say to you, arise."
Luke 12:35-40  "Be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,..."
Luke 23:33-43  "Today you will be with me in paradise."
Luke 23:44, 24:6a  "Father, I put my life in your hands."
Luke 23:44-49   "Father into your hands I commend my spirit"
Luke 24:13-35 "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer..."
Luke 24:13-16,28-35  "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer..."
John 5:24-29  "Whoever hears my word and believes has passed from..."
John 6:37-40 "All who believe in the Son will have eternal life..."
John 6:51-58  "All who eat this bread will live for ever...."
John 11:17-27  "I am the resurrection and the life."
John 11:21-27  "I am the resurrection and the life."
John 11:32-45  "Lazarus, come out."
John 12:23-28  "If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies..."
John 12:23-26  "If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies..."
John 14:1-6 "There are many rooms in my Father's house."
John 17:24-26  "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me..."
John 19:17-18, 25-39  "Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirits."

 

The music listed below is a collection of hymns often used for funerals. It is not a complete list, so if you would like something different please let us know. Remember that music will need to be appropriate for the liturgical setting of the Funeral Mass.
You may contact our Musical Director, Greg Zyjewski, for assistance at stjoestjoemusic@gmail.com