Throughout the annals of the Church, Christian interment has played a pivotal role in Catholic existence. The Catholic tenets and principles concerning death and resurgence are manifested in the rituals, devotions, and traditions linked to the passing and interment of its members. The Catholic conviction of death as a gateway to eternity, the anticipation of resurrection, the importance of prayers for the departed, respect for the remaining physical form, and an understanding of the profound and holy nature of death should all be evident in the pastoral practices and ceremonies the Church employs in response to death, the treatment of the deceased's body, and the support provided to the grieving.
The Christian conviction about the sanctity of human existence, in this life and the next, must be mirrored in how Christians address death. The personal and liturgical supplications, contemplation, and the processes and ceremonies associated with funerals and final rest articulate our involvement in the grand Paschal Mystery and its assurance of eternal communion with the Divine. The occurrences surrounding death also necessitate a reaction from the Christian assembly.
The General Preface of the Order of Christian Funerals states, "upon the passing of a member of Christ’s Body, the community of believers is summoned to provide solace to those grieving the loss of a loved one. This Christian solace is anchored in the hope birthed from faith in the redemptive death and rebirth of Lord Jesus Christ. This hope acknowledges the stark reality of death and the depth of sorrow, but staunchly believes that the might of sin and death has been conquered by the Ascended Lord. Every segment of Christ’s Body — be it priest, deacon, or layperson — is beckoned to partake in the consolatory ministry, to support the dying, to send prayers for the departed, and to offer solace to the aggrieved.” (OCF, 8)
Whenever feasible, individuals affiliated with the Catholic faith are laid to rest in a Catholic burial ground. The Catholic cemetery is not merely a sanctified space, an arena for prayers, and a reflection of our convictions and legacies, but it also symbolizes the shared bond of all believers, both living and passed. It epitomizes the shared faith of both the departed souls and the living, who entrust their departed ones to this sanctified ground.
Upon a person's passing, a unique journey unfolds. For the departed, this journey marks the culmination of their earthly sojourn and their progression towards God, the ultimate arbiter of truth and love, capable of bestowing life in its zenith. For the survivors, a different expedition commences. It's a trek of parting and grief, a phase of facing mortality that might test our assurance and even our belief. For the family and acquaintances left behind, this could be an extended path. The challenge might persist even with the passage of many years.
A pivotal phase in this journey for mankind is the span starting at the point of death and culminating with the deceased's burial or sealing. Within the Catholic ethos, no one embarks on this journey in solitude.
The Vigil for the Deceased
The goal of the Church’s funeral rite is not only to commend the dead to God, but also to support her people in Christian hope. It has become customary, at some opportune time and place before burial, to have a gathering of the family and friends of the deceased. “The vigil for the deceased is the principal rite celebrated by the Christian community in the time following death and before the funeral liturgy.” (OCF, 56)
The vigil may be held in the parish church in the company of the body to allow full participation of the whole parish family in the ministry of consolation to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one. While this is currently not a practice in the parishes, guidelines will be made available to those parish communities which want to exercise this option in the future.
The Funeral Mass
“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.” (OCF, 4) The Mass, the memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection, is the principal celebration of the Christian funeral.
Final Commendation, Farewell and Committal
“The final commendation is a final farewell by the members of the community, an act of respect for one of their members, whom they entrust to the tender and merciful embrace of God. This act also acknowledges the reality of separation and affirms that the community and the deceased, baptized into the one Body, share the same destiny, resurrection on the last day. On that day, the one Shepherd will call each by name and gather the faithful together in the new and eternal Jerusalem.” (OCF, 146)
These occasions and gestures enable the community to pay due attention to the reality of a person dear to us who has entered the shadow of death. At a time of great upheaval and emotional distress, the Church’s ancient rituals offer stability and focus. They shed a light on the path of our journey. They guide the mourners and the rest of the community to a response of faith, hope, and love.
