PLACING OF CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS A symbol of the Christian life, such as a Bible or a cross, may be carried in proceion then placed on the coffin, either in silence or with the words: BIBLE: In life N. cherished the Gospel of Christ. May Christ now greet hinv/her with these words of eternal life! Come, blessed of my Father! CROSS: In baptism N. received the sign of the cross. May he/she now share in Christ’s victory over sin and death. On reaching the altar, the priest, with the assisting ministers, makes the customary reverence, kisses the altar, and (if incense is used) incenses it. Then he goes to the chair and prays the Opening Prayer. FUNERAL MASS (Mass For the Dead) ENTRANCE ANTIPHON 4 Ezr 2:34-35 Give them eternal rest, 0 Lord, and may perpetual light shine on them forever. GREETING P. Inthe name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. R. Amen ur Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, P. Thegrace of o nion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. and the commuGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. P. The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit. PENITENTIAL RITE This rite is omitted if the Sprinkling with Holy Water and Placing of Christian Symbols take place. P. Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. A brief pause for silence follows, Then all recite together the formula of general confession All: Iconfess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, And striking their breasts, they say: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. 8P. May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. R. Amen, The priest invites the faithful to make the Penitential Act: P. Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. A brief pause for silence follows. P. You were sent to heal the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. » You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Rh . You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. mR May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. R. Amen. The Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follow, unless they have just occurred in a formula of the Penitential Act. P. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. P. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy. P. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.Old Testament Readings 1 Wis 4:7-15 A blameless life isa ripe old age. Areading from the book of Wisdom But the just man, though he die early, shall be at rest. For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years. Rather, understanding, this is man’s gray hairs and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age. He who pleased God was loved; he who lived among sinners was transported— Snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul; For the witchery of paltry things obscures what is right and the whirl of desire transforms the innocent mind. Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career; for his soul was pleasing to the LORD, therefore he sped him out of the midst ok wickedness. But the people saw and did not understand, nor did they take this into account. The Word of the Lord. 432 ae ; Rr. The Lord is kind and merciful, Ps 103 Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in kindness, God does not always rebuke, nurses no Has not dealt with us as our sing merit, nor requited us as our deeds deserve, (R) lasting anger, As the heavens tower over the earth, so God’s love towers over the faithful. As far as the cast is from the west, so far have our sins been removed from us. (R) Asa father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on the faithful. For he knows how we are formed, remembers that we are dust. (R) Our days are like the grass; like flowers of the field we blossom. The wind sweeps over us and we are gone; our place knows us no more. (R) But the LORD’s kindness is forever, toward the faithful from age to age. He favors the children’s children of those who keep his covenant, Who take care to fulfill its precepts. (R) 53New Testament Readings I Rom 5:5-|| Having been justified by his blood, wwe will be saved from God's anger through him, A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. The Word of the Lord. 46“Lam troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that Tcame to this hour, Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” The Gospel of the Lord, 8 Jn 14:1-6 There are many rooms in my Father's house. Areading from the holy gospel according to John Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And ifI go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The Gospel of the Lord. 63HOMILY GENERAL INTERCESSION P. Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and sits at the right hand of the Father, where he intercedes for his Church. Confident that God hears the voices of those who trust in the Lord Jesus, we join our prayers to his. L. InbaptismN. received the light of Christ. Scatter the darkness now and Jead him/her over the waters of death. In your mercy, Lord, hear our prayer. R. Lord, hear our prayer. L. Our brother/sister N. was nourished at the table of the Savior. Welcome him/her into the halls of the heavenly banquet. We ask you, Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer. L. Many friends and members of our families have gone before us and await the kingdom. Grant them an everlasting home with your Son. We ask you, Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer. L. Many people die by violence, war, and famine each day. Show your mercy to those who suffer so unjustly these sins against your love, and gather them to the eternal kingdom of peace. We ask you, Lord: R. Lord, hear our prayer.L. P. R. The family and friends of N. seek comfort and consolation, Heal their pain and dispel the darkness and doubt that come from grief. We ask you, Lord: . Lord, hear our prayer. Lord God, giver of peace and healer of souls, hear the prayers of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and the voices of your people, whose lives were purchased by the blood of the Lamb. Forgive the sins of all who sleep in Christ and grant them a place in the kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST The priest takes the paten with bread and holding it slightly raised above the altar, says: P Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life. R. Blessed be God forever. The priest pours wine and a little water into the chalice, saying inaudibly: By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity. 151 of a fesponsory oF even 4 Ir may take the form i invocations may be recited for all to sing. not passible, hymn. When singing ts by the assembly. ion concludes the rite. In this prayer rey, commends the deceased belief that those who have y over death, A prayer of commendat ’ the community calls upon God's me into God's hands, and affirms its ; died in Christ will share in Christ's victor FINAL COMMENDATION in or cremated remains. The The presiding minister goes to a place near the coffi if these are to be used. assisting ministers carry the censer and holy water, A member or a friend of the family may speak in remembrance of the deceased before che final commendation begins. INVITATION TO PRAYER The presiding minister faces the people and begins the final commendation with these or similar words. Before we go our separate ways, let us take leave of our brother/sister. May our farewell express our affection for him/her; may it ease our sadness and strengthen our hope. One day we shall joyfully greet him/her again when the love of Christ, which conquers all things, destroys even death itself. prasting in God, we have prayed together for N. and ate ae to the last farewell, There is sadness it parting, but we take comfort in the hope that one day 30we shall see N. again and enjoy his her friendship. Although this congregation will disperse in sorrow, the mercy of God will gather us together again in the joy of his kingdom. Therefore let us console one another in the faith of Jesus Christ. SILENCE All pray in silence. SIGNS OF FAREWELL The coffin or the vessel of cremated remains may now be sprinkled with holy water and incensed, or this may take place during or after the song of farewell. If the remains were sprinkled with holy water during the rite of reception at the beginning of Mass, the sprinkling is ordinarily omitted in the rite of final commendation. SONGS OF FAREWELL The song of farewell is then sung. The following or other responsories may be used or some other song may be sung. Saints of God, come to his/her aid! Hasten to meet him/her, angels of the Lord! | R. Receive his/her soul and present him/her to God the Most High. May Christ, who called you, take you to himself; may angels lead you to the bosom of Abraham. R. Receive his/her soul and present him/her to God the Most High. Eternal rest grant unto him/her, 0 Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him/her. R. Receive his/her soul and present him/her to God the Most High. 31