Sarah Mitchell
Catholic funerals are traditionally held in Catholic churches, but chapels of Catholic cemeteries or assisted living facilities are also permitted. While there is no rule prohibiting the burial of Catholics on any day during Holy Week, funeral Masses are restricted on specific days, including Sundays during Lent and Advent, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. In such cases, a funeral liturgy, without the sacrament of Holy Communion, may be held instead, and burials typically follow funeral Masses, though cremations may occur after.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Burial on Sundays during Lent | Not allowed |
| Burial on Sundays during Advent | Not allowed |
| Burial on Sundays during the Easter Season | Not allowed |
| Burial on Holy Thursday | Not allowed |
| Burial on Good Friday | Not allowed |
| Burial on Holy Saturday | Not allowed |
| Burial on Easter Sunday | Not allowed |
| Burial during Holy Week | Possible but not preferred |
| Burial ceremony | Rite of Committal |
| Burial place | Gravesite, mausoleum crypt or tomb, columbarium |
| Burial method | Burial in the ground, burial at sea, entombment in a columbarium |
| Cremation | Allowed but not before the Funeral Mass |
| Ashes | Should be placed in a sacred location, not scattered or kept at home |
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What You'll Learn
Funeral Masses are prohibited on Sundays during Lent and Advent
Catholic funerals are usually held in Catholic churches, but they may also take place in the chapels of Catholic cemeteries or assisted living facilities. A priest typically leads the Funeral Mass, but a deacon may preside if a priest is unavailable.
However, Funeral Masses are prohibited on Sundays during Lent and Advent. Lent is the 40-day period before Easter, while Advent is the period starting on the fourth Sunday before 25 December and ending on 25 December. Funeral Masses are also not allowed on Holy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter), Good Friday, Holy Saturday, or Easter Sunday.
During Holy Week, the period between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, it is highly unusual for a Catholic funeral to take place on the last four days (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday). This is because of the importance of these days in the Catholic calendar and the focus on the commemoration of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. While there is no explicit prohibition on burials during these days, it is generally not considered the best time to hold a funeral.
In cases where a Catholic passes away during Holy Week, a funeral liturgy may be held instead of a Funeral Mass. This liturgy can take place in a church, cemetery chapel, or the home of the deceased, and it fulfils the requirements for a Catholic funeral. A funeral liturgy typically does not include the sacrament of Holy Communion, which is exclusive to a Catholic Mass.
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Burials are held immediately after Funeral Masses
Catholic funerals are held in Catholic churches, chapels of Catholic assisted living facilities, or chapels at Catholic cemeteries. Priests lead the Funeral Mass and may also lead the funeral liturgy (service). If a priest is unavailable, deacons may lead the funeral liturgy. However, only a priest or deacon may deliver the homily (sermon).
The Catholic Church has three ceremonies to mark the death of a loved one. The first is the vigil or wake, held the evening before the funeral. Family and friends gather in the home of the deceased, in the funeral home, or in the church to pray and remember the deceased. A priest or deacon usually presides over the prayers. The Vigil is the appropriate time to eulogize the deceased.
The second ceremony is the funeral Mass, a special Mass with prayers and readings suited to the occasion. The final ceremony is the Rite of Committal or burial, which happens immediately after the funeral Mass. Mourners accompany their loved one to their gravesite by way of a funeral procession. While at the grave, the priest or deacon says prayers and reads from the scripture. The rite ends with the Lord's Prayer and a blessing from the priest or deacon.
Funeral Masses may not be held on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, or Easter Sunday. Funeral Masses are also prohibited on Sundays during Advent, Lent, and the Easter Season. However, burials can occur during Holy Week, which runs from Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday. While there is no absolute prohibition on burials during Holy Week, funeral Masses are restricted on the last three days (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday). During these days, a funeral liturgy is held instead of a funeral Mass.
While the Catholic Church previously discouraged cremation, it is now acceptable for Catholics to be cremated. However, most churches prefer that the body be present for the Funeral Mass, meaning that cremation should occur after the Funeral Mass. Remains should be buried in the ground or at sea or entombed in a columbarium, and should not be scattered.
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Cremation is allowed, but with strict guidelines
While the Catholic Church permits cremation, it has issued strict guidelines on how the ashes should be cared for and treated with reverence. The Church's primary reference text, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, states: "The Church permits cremation, provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body".
The Church's stance on cremation has evolved over time. For centuries, religious authorities believed that cremation prevented the resurrection of the body and forbade Catholics from cremating their loved ones. In 1963, the Church clarified its position, stating that while burial should be the norm, cremation is allowed.
In 2016, the Vatican issued new guidelines emphasizing the respectful treatment of ashes. The Vatican's statement reads: "Burial in a Catholic cemetery or other sacred place is 'above all the most fitting way to express faith and hope in the resurrection of the body'". The Church requires that cremated remains be placed in a sacred location, such as a Catholic cemetery, and not scattered or kept at home. Ashes should be buried in the ground or at sea, entombed in a columbarium, or interred in a mausoleum or cremation bench.
The Rite of Committal, the Catholic interment service, can also be performed for cremated remains. This ceremony involves blessing the burial or interment site, committing the body or remains to their final resting place, and reciting prayers, including the Lord's Prayer.
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Funeral Liturgies can take place during Holy Week
While Catholic funerals during Holy Week are rare, Funeral Liturgies can take place during this period. Holy Week, the most solemn period in the Catholic Church's year, is the week between Palm Sunday and Easter. It is a time for Catholics to reflect upon and prepare for the Easter celebration.
Funeral Masses are not held on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, or Easter Sunday. They are also prohibited on the Sundays during Advent, Lent, and the Easter Season. This means that Funeral Masses cannot take place during the last three days of Holy Week.
However, Funeral Liturgies can take the place of Funeral Masses during Holy Week. These liturgies can be held in a church, cemetery chapel, or even in the home of the deceased. While the Vigil and Rite of Committal remain unchanged during Holy Week, the Funeral Liturgy fulfills the requirement for holding a Catholic funeral.
It is important to note that Funeral Liturgies typically do not include the celebration of the sacrament of Holy Communion, as this is exclusive to a Catholic Mass. A separate memorial Mass can be held after the burial, but it will be scheduled after the conclusion of Holy Week.
In summary, while Catholic funerals during Holy Week are uncommon due to the specific requirements of the Church, Funeral Liturgies provide a way to hold a Catholic funeral during this sacred time.
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Eulogies are not part of the funeral Mass
Catholic funeral traditions dictate that funeral Masses should be hopeful and faith-filled, but not a heavy lesson in theology. The funeral liturgy is an act of worship, where the Church gathers to commend the deceased to God's mercy. It is not merely an expression of grief.
The funeral Mass is meant to reaffirm the Catholic faith in God and the belief that the deceased lives on beside God in a place that they can only reach in death. The funeral liturgy is also an opportunity for those gathered to pray for the deceased's soul. While it may be comforting for loved ones to share stories about the deceased during the funeral Mass, doing so is not in line with the purpose of the Mass.
However, this does not mean that there cannot be words of remembrance spoken about the deceased in the context of their relationship with their faith. Rather than a traditional eulogy, Catholic funerals are generally known to allow words that represent an interpretation of the deceased's life by referencing the suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ in the form of a homily. A homily is delivered by a priest or deacon and may incorporate examples from the deceased's life.
While eulogies are not permitted during the funeral Mass, they may be given during the Vigil, a liturgical rite that occurs prior to the funeral Mass. The Vigil is similar to a wake or viewing and is an opportunity for family and friends to gather and pay their respects to the deceased.
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Frequently asked questions
No, burials are normally not scheduled on Sundays during Holy Week. This is because funeral Masses are prohibited on these days, and burials are held immediately after the funeral Mass.
Yes, Catholic burials can be held on Sundays outside of Holy Week.
The Rite of Committal is the Catholic burial service, at which the body is finally buried or interred. The priest or deacon blesses the burial site, the body or remains are committed to the earth, and then prayers are recited.
Yes, if a priest is not available, a deacon may lead the funeral liturgy. If a deacon is also not available, a layperson with knowledge of the liturgy and traditions may lead the service. However, only a priest or deacon may deliver the homily.
