Masses for the dead seem to have developed a few distinctive features that, at least in the States, seem almost universal, without any diktats from on high.
Archive for category Funerals/Burial
Out of the earthly church, with its glory of concrete and flesh, into a larger church whose glory is yet unknown. I am called to be a life-giving spirit, but what I know is death and failure.
Bruce Feiler in the New York Times: “Old customs of mourning no longer apply, but new ones have yet to materialize.”
It is time to consider what awaits us if the other rites of the Church receive the same treatment as the Missal.
Dissolving the saints?
Aug 30
From the BBC: New body ‘liquefaction’ unit unveiled in Florida funeral home.
Homily by Fr. James Walsh, SJ.
Eulogy by Paul Covino.
Holy Trinity Church on June 4, 2011.
The funeral Mass for Abbot Timothy Kelly, OSB, was celebrated on October 13, 2010. Here are the program and several video clips.
No more romantic ballads, pop or rock music, political songs, football club songs at funerals in the Melbourne archdiocese.
Preparing liturgy is one of the most important tasks of everyone involved, presider, ministers, and assembly. Whatever mechanism for preparing liturgy a parish chooses (committee, advisory board, or the like), it needs to pay great attention to the rules of good communication and good liturgy.
Death by eulogy
Aug 3
Earlier PrayTell posted the sad news of the death of Fr. James Field of Boston. Today US Catholic posts his wise and witty remarks on the problem of eulogies at Catholic funerals.