Important Note: We ask that you speak with a representative of the church parish before making funeral arrangements. While the funeral home may have availability to accommodate your family, the church or priest may not be available.

Readings for a Funeral Liturgy

A careful selection and use of readings from Scripture for the funeral rites will provide the family with an opportunity to hear God speak to them in their needs, sorrows, fears, and hopes.

In the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word at the funeral liturgy [and/or the Funeral Mass], the Biblical readings may not be replaced by nonbiblical readings. But during prayer services with the family nonbiblical readings may be used in addition to readings from Scripture.

– Order of Christian Funerals, General Introduction, nos. 22-23
 

MUSIC FOR A FUNERAL

Music is integral to the Funeral rites. It allows the community to express convictions and feelings that word alone may fail to convey. It has the power to console and uplift the mourners and to strengthen the unity of the assembly in faith and love. The texts of the songs chosen for a particular celebration should express the paschal mystery of the Lord's suffering, death, and triumph over death and should be related to the readings from Scripture.

Since music can evoke strong feelings, the music for the celebration of the funeral rites should be chosen with great care. The music at funerals should support, console, and uplift the partici-pants and should help to create in them a spirit of hope in Christ’s victory over death and in the Christian’s share in that victory.  (30–31)

While Funeral music may express "convictions and feelings," its subject must always be the paschal mystery and it must be related to the readings from Scripture. As such, secular music, though it may hold a sentimental value, is not permitted during The Celebration of the Funeral.