Funeral Liturgy Preparation

FUNERAL LITURGY PREPARATION

Funeral Liturgy Preparation

"At the death of a Christian, whose life of faith was begun in the waters of Baptism and strengthened at the Eucharistic table,the Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of its confident belief that death is not the end, nor does it break the bonds forged in life. The Church also ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them in the funeral rites with the comforting Word of God and the Sacrament of the Eucharist." (Order of Christian Funerals, no. 4) United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

As Roman Catholics,the Mass is the highest and most perfect prayer that we as humans can offer to God. Celebration of the Funeral Mass commemorates Jesus’ Life, Death and Resurrection and our belief in the Resurrection and eternal life.As members of the Mystical Body of Christ and the Communion of Saints we believe that death is a transition, not an end.We believe that Jesus rose from the dead.We believe that by dying, He destroyed our death and that by rising, He restored our life.We are participants in the Resurrection, not spectators. This participation began with our Baptism and will continue through the transition of death.As members of the Catholic Faith, we believe in the Resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come, which we recited in The Nicene Creed at Mass each and every Sunday.

Our hearts go out to all those who have lost loved ones. May the passage of time and the hand of the Lord soothe your grief, and may you find comfort in the hope of the Resurrection. The parish family of St. Margaret of Cortona extends its deepest sympathy.

Click here to go to Archdiocesan Policy on Words of Remembrances (Eulogies) at Funeral Masses in the Archdiocese of Newark

Please click here to download and fill up the Funeral Liturgy Planning Form.

Please also take a moment to read through the Scripture Options and Music Guidelines below as these are necessary to fill out the form.

Click here to go to Catholic Cemeteries | Continuing the Journey – Preparing a Catholic Funeral

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..."

Here are other alternate suggestions for appropriate readings:

Old Testament

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

Song of Songs 8:6-7

Isaiah 35:1-6, 10

Isaiah 41:8-10, 13

Isaiah 57:15-19

Isaiah 61.1-3

Isaiah 65:17-21

Ezekiel 34:11-16

Micah 6:6-8

Zephaniah 3:16

Scripture Options - Suggested Funeral Readings

The following are lists of Scriptures appropriate for use at Catholic Funeral Liturgies. Click on a reading to download a pdf version.
One reading is chosen from each of the Old Testament and the New Testament
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

New Testament

Acts 10:34-43

Romans 5:5-11

Romans 5:17-21

Romans 6:3-9

Romans 8:14-23

Romans 8:3lb-35, 37-39

Romans 14:7-9, l0b-12

I Corinthians 15:20-23, 24b-28

I Corinthians 15:51-57

2 Corinthians 4:14 -5:1

2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10

New Testament (cont'd)

Ephesians 3:14-21

Philippians 3:20-21

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

2 Timothy 2:8-13

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17- 18

1 Peter 1:3-9

1 John 3:1-2

1 John 3:14-16

Revelation 14:13

Revelation 20:11 - 21:1

Revelation 21:1-5a, 6b-7

Revelation 22:1-7

Funeral Music Guidelines

Music is integral to the funeral rites. It allows the community to express convictions and feelings that words alone may fail to convey. It has power to console and uplift the mourners and to strengthen the unity of the assembly in faith and love. The texts of 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. Click here to read on our music guidelines

Hymns for the Rite of Christian Burial

Abide with Me

All Creatures Of Our God And King

Amazing Grace

At The Lamb’s High Feast

Ave Maria

Be Not Afraid

Because The Lord Is My Shepherd

Behold The Lamb

Blest Are They

Blest Be The Everlasting God

Canticle of Mary

Celtic Song of Farewell

Celtic Alleluia (Sending Forth)

Center Of My Life

Christ The Victorious

Come To Me (Joncas)

Come To Me (Western Priory)

Crown Him With Many Crowns

Day Is Done

Death Will Be No More

Eat This Bread

Eye Has Not Seen

For All The Saints

Gentle Shepherd

Gift Of Finest Wheat

Give Me Jesus

Give Them Rest

Glory and Praise to Our God

God Of Day And God Of Darkness

God Of The Living

Hosea

How Blest Are They

How Great Thou Art

How Lovely Is Your Dwelling

I Have Seen The Lord

I Heard The Voice Of Jesus

I Know That My Redeemer Lives (Soper)

I, the Lord

I Will Not Die

I Will Praise You, Lord

If God Is for Us

In Paradisum

In The Breaking Of The Bread

Jerusalem, My Happy Home

Jesu, Joy Of Our Desiring

Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

Jesus, Lord, Have Mercy

Jesus, Remember Me

Jesus, the Bread of Life

Keep In Mind

Let All Be One In Mind And Heart

Like A Child Rests

Lord of All Hopefulness

Lord Of The Living

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Mary’s Song Of Praise

May Saints And Angels

May The Angels

May The Angels Be Your Guide

May You Walk with Christ

My Shepherd Is The Lord

My Shepherd, Lord

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

My Soul Rejoices

O God, Our Help In Ages Past

O God, You Search Me

O Lord, I Will Sing

O Lord Of Life

On Eagle’s Wings

On Our Journey To The Kingdom

Only In God

Only This I Want

Out Of Darkness

Out Of The Depths (Soper)

Philippians Canticle

Praise His Name (Alleluia- Joncas)

Praise To You, O Christ, Our Savior (Farrell)

Psalm 23

Psalm 25: I Lift Up My Soul

Psalm 25: To You, O Lord (Soper)

Psalm 27: The Lord Is My Light

Psalm 42/43: As The Deer Longs

Psalm 42: O God, for You I Long

Psalm 91: Be with Me,Lord (Joncas)

Psalm 103: Bless the Lord (Walker)

Psalm 103: Loving and Forgiving (Soper)

Psalm121: Our Help Is From The Lord

Psalm 130: With The Lord

Remember Your Love

Shelter Me, O God

Shepherd Me, O God

Shepherd Of Souls

Sing A New Song

Sing With All The Saints In Glory

Softly And Tenderly Jesus Is Calling

Song Of Farewell (Old Hundredth)

Song Of Farewell (Sands)

Song Of The Angels

Taste And See (Moore)

The Cry Of The poor

The King Of Love My Shepherd Is

The Lord Is My Hope

The Lord Is Near / May the Angels

The Strife Is O’er

This Alone

This Day In New Jerusalem

Though The Mountains May Fall

To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King

Unless A Grain Of Wheat

We Walk By Faith

We Will Rise Again

What Wondrous Love Is This

Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones

You Are Mine

You Are Near

St. Margaret of Cortona Parish

Serving the Catholic Communities of Little Ferry and Moonachie

in Ministry, Education and Service Since August 24, 1912