The Journey Through Death Into Life

Dying and death are not topics we usually like to think about, for ourselves, or for those near and dear to us. And yet, for we who are disciples of the Lord Jesus, dying and death are not merely facts that all of us must face eventually, they are "doors" through which we pass to complete our life's journey in and to God, "doors" to the new life won for us by Christ's passion, death and resurrection.

As Catholics, we celebrate key moments in our lives of faith through the prayers and sacraments of our Church. Blessed Trinity Parish offers our parishioners and their families the following information and suggestions about the celebration of a Catholic funeral.

AT TIMES OF SERIOUS ILLNESS:

When a member of your family is ill, or near death, whether at home or in a hospital, a family member should contact the parish office or rectory to request the sacraments and prayer of the Church. The Church offers the Sacrament of Anointing, Reconciliation, and Eucharist to those who are ill or dying.

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, formerly called "Extreme Unction," was available only once in a person's lifetime, and so was usually received as close to death as possible. Since the renewal of the Rites for the Pastoral Care of the Sick, in 1983, those who are seriously ill, or dying now may receive the Sacramental Anointing more than once. The Sacrament of Anointing is for the living, therefore, we do not anoint the body of one who already has died. Viaticum is the dying person's final reception of Eucharist; viaticum is food for the journey from this life into the presence of God. A family member should contact the parish office or rectory to let a priest know the needs of your loved one.

TIME TO PREPARE:

You may want to preplan your funeral liturgy: doing so in advance can be a loving gift to family members who will then be aware of your desires. You may call the parish to send someone to help you with the funeral liturgy preplanning.

It is also a good idea to talk with several funeral homes about caskets and services and burial of the body, or cremation, as costs for the same services vary widely.

CREMATION:

"The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the Resurrection of the body." (1983, Code of Canon Law). The Church greatly prefers that the funeral liturgy take place in the presence of the body of the deceased prior to its cremation. Most funeral homes will provide a rental casket when the body is to be cremated after the Mass of Christian Burial (Funeral Mass). In 1997, the Order of Christian Funerals provided for a Funeral Mass with the presence of cremated remains.

The cremated remains should be interred or entombed in a proper resting place. "The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come." (Funeral Rite) When a body is to be cremated the Rite of Committal is to be celebrated as soon as possible following the funeral (OCF 425, 431).

WHEN SOMEONE DIES:

When a loved one dies, a family member should contact the parish office or rectory as soon as possible. If possible, a parish priest will join the family for prayer over the deceased.

MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUNERAL RITES:

The deceased's body or cremated remains must be present at the Funeral Mass. Once the family meets or speaks with the funeral director, the director will call the parish office regarding a date and time for the Vigil and Funeral Mass. If the family desires a specific priest, they should make the request known to the funeral director, so the funeral director will be able to arrange the date and time of the funeral (and vigil, or wake service) with the priest the family has requested.

PLANNING THE LITURGY: A parish bereavement minister calls the family contact member to arrange a time to plan the Mass of Christian Burial. The priest and parish bereavement ministers will meet with the family to prepare the funeral liturgy. Scripture readings and music are chosen with the life and experiences of the deceased in mind, to encourage and console those who mourn, and to offer praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of the life now returned to the Author of life. Parish musicians will provide music for the funeral liturgy.

Family members and their friends may participate as readers, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, gift-bearers or pallbearers. When the family is unable to participate, parish liturgical ministers will serve. Family members assist the priest who will be preaching by providing background regarding the deceased to help the priest prepare a homily.

THE FUNERAL RITES

VIGIL ("WAKE") FOR THE DECEASED:

The Vigil for the Deceased, also known as the "wake" takes place the evening before the Funeral Mass at the parish church, or at the funeral home.

One of the parish priests will lead a brief prayer service from The Order of Christian Funerals. The proclamation of the word of God is the central focus of the vigil. All those in attendance are also encouraged to speak about the deceased, offering memories, poems, and stories.

The evening of the vigil would be an appropriate time to play any recorded music that was personally meaningful to the deceased, perhaps before of after the Vigil service itself. Eulogies are not a part of the ritual of the Catholic Funeral Mass, but could be offered before or after the Vigil service, as family and friends gather at the funeral home.

MASS OF THE CHRISTIAN BURIAL (FUNERAL MASS):

The Funeral Mass at church with the body (or cremated remains) usually takes place the day after the Vigil. This Mass commends the deceased to the mercy of God and supports and encourages family and friends during their mourning, through community and communion.

RITE OF COMMITTAL:

After the Funeral Mass, a priest leads the service at the graveside, using the prayers of The Order of Christian Funerals, committing the body or ashes to the final resting place at a local cemetery. When a body is to be cremated following the celebration of a Funeral Mass, the Rite of Committal is to be celebrated as soon as possible following the funeral (OCF 425, 431).

PRAYER SERVICE AT THE FUNERAL HOME:

Although this is not the preference of the Church, the deceased or family may choose, for various legitimate reasons, not to celebrate a Funeral Mass in church. In that case, one of the priests is willing to lead a prayer service at the funeral home, and to accompany the body (or cremated remains) to the cemetery for prayers, if the family requests it.

DOES THE CHURCH CELEBRATE FUNERAL (“Memorial”) MASSES WITHOUT A BODY OR CREMATED REMAINS PRESENT?

It is not permitted in the Diocese of Orlando to schedule a Memorial Mass, that is, a Funeral Mass (Mass of Christian Burial) without a body or the cremated remains of a body present.

In some unusual circumstances (e.g., donation of a body to medical science, a disaster where a body has been lost or destroyed) permission may be requested of the bishop for the celebration of a Funeral Mass without human remains present. Permission must be asked in each individual circumstance through the Office of Liturgy.

NEW LIFE

In the face of death, the Catholic Church confidently proclaims life.

For Christians, death is the beginning of a new life, an eternal one in unity with Jesus Christ, but for those who are left behind, it can be a difficult time of transition. The parish offers support through the Bereavement Ministry Team, who walks with the family through their grief journey. They are there to provide follow-up care to the family, and offer assistance to them, as needed.

If family members of the deceased would like to meet with one of the priests to discuss how they might draw on the resources of our faith for support and sustenance during this time, they should contact the parish office or rectory to arrange a meeting.