The funeral liturgy is the central liturgical celebration of the Christian community for the deceased. When one of its members dies, the Church encourages the celebration of the funeral liturgy at a Mass. When Mass cannot be celebrated, a funeral liturgy outside Mass can be celebrated at the church or in the funeral home. At the funeral liturgy, the Church gathers with the family and friends of the deceased to give praise and thanks to God for Christ’s victory over sin and death, to commend the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion, and to seek strength in the proclamation of the Paschal Mystery. The funeral liturgy, therefore, is an act of worship, and not merely an expression of grief.
You may want to consider pre-planning parts of your own funeral to aid your loved ones after your passing. Or you may be planning the funeral for a loved one who has just passed. The readings and music that will be read during a funeral Mass are chosen by the family during a meeting with the priest. It can be helpful to read through these prior to the meeting to allow you time to fully consider each piece of scripture. While selecting the readings, think of family members or friends who would be willing to read the first and second readings during the Mass.
