By Bishop James Conley
This month of November is the month of All Souls, where the Church directs us to be more attentive in praying for the dead. It is a time for us to remember all who have gone before us, especially those forgotten souls, who have no one to pray for them.
On a personal level, I think and pray for members of my own family and friends who have passed away. In a particular way, I remember my own father, a veteran of WWII, who died November 7, 2006, and was buried on Veterans Day, November 11, 2006.
As difficult as it was, I was blessed to be able to offer the funeral rites for my father. It is something that I most certainly will never forget. The celebration of these rites brought about healing and closure through the healing presence of God.
In my column last week, I spoke about the need to remember the limited time that we have here on earth. A good Christian disciple should have a healthy understanding of memento mori, or “remembrance of death” because as our Lord tells us “we know not the day nor the hour” when we will be taken from this world.
Every time we attend a funeral, it is a little memento mori for us, as we recognize that our funeral is never too far away. It’s a reminder that our prayers are of great help to those who have gone before us.
The funeral rites are preceded by the pastoral care of the sick and the dying. I am very grateful for the compassion, charity, and dedication of the priests of the Diocese of Lincoln in their care for the sick. This pastoral care of the sick is often seen only by a few, but most importantly it is seen by Almighty God, and by the loved ones of the sick and dying.
I’m always heartened by the many stories of priests in their heroic care of the sick and dying. Priests are sometimes awakened in the middle of the night to attend to the dying, preparing their souls to meet God. Priests make these sacrifices dutifully and joyfully as they know that their actions have eternal effects. And I know that I speak on behalf of my brother priests, that the family and friends of the dying should never hesitate in calling upon them, no matter the hour.
Priests offer those who are dying the sacrament of Confession, the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Viaticum—the sacrament of Eucharist—which is food for the journey to heaven. It’s good to remember that the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is not merely for those on the cusp of death. As the Second Vatican Council teaches in its document on the Sacred Liturgy: “…as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has already arrived.”
The funeral rites are a means to give thanks and praise to almighty God for the gift of life, returning the deceased back to the Heavenly Father. Through the funeral rites, the Church prays for the souls of the deceased that they may be purified of their sins. These rites remind us that we are deeply connected to one another as part of the communion of saints.
The vigil for the deceased is the rite that follows the death of the person and precedes the funeral liturgy. It is sometimes referred to as a “wake.” In the United States, it usually takes place in a funeral home or the church, but it is customary in some cultures for it to be celebrated in the home of the deceased.
The vigil is the time for the faithful to “keep watch” with the family as they pray for the mercy of God on the beloved dead, and are strengthened by the presence of Christ. It is a time for all the faithful to reflect on the Word of God as a source of faith and hope during a time of darkness and pain.
It is customary in our country to pray the rosary as part of the vigil service to ask for the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the deceased and for those who mourn. The vigil service is the appropriate time for a member or friend of the family to speak in remembrance of the deceased.
The Church encourages the celebration of a funeral Mass for the deceased. The Mass is the greatest prayer because it’s our participation in the prayer of obedience of Christ to the Heavenly Father. It is the re-presentation and celebration of the paschal mystery—Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection.
I’ve heard many comments from Catholics and non-Catholics throughout the years about the beauty and solemnity of Catholic funeral Masses. Not only are the prayers of the funeral Mass beautiful, it is enriched by many signs and symbols that evoke the senses, leading us to deeper prayer.
The Easter candle is lighted as a sign of the light of Christ in the world; a light that conquers darkness, giving us hope in having a share in his victory over sin and death. Holy water is sprinkled on the casket, which symbolizes the saving waters of baptism. Baptism is the beginning of the life of grace for all Christians. Holy water reminds us that we both die and rise with Christ to new life in him.
Incense is an aromatic gum or resin that gives off a fragrant smoke when it is burned. It is a sign of honor to the deceased; the smoke represents our prayers ascending to God. A funeral pall may be used as a sign of one’s Christian dignity, akin to the symbol of the white garment given at Baptism.
The rite of committal is the conclusion of the funeral rites, when the body of the deceased is committed to its final resting place. The faithful offer prayers of farewell, which express communion between the Church on earth and the Church in heaven.
We should consider the funeral rites of the Church to be a great blessing. The various funeral rites express the truth that Christ is in our midst at all times—in times of both joy and sorrow.
