Christian Burial
Vigil
It is customary to gather the night before the funeral, to keep vigil. The Vigil prayers can be in the form of Evening Prayer, a short Liturgy of the Word, or the rosary with scriptural reflections. The Vigil is also a time when it is appropriate to share memories of the deceased.
Mass of Christian Burial
At the center of Catholic funerals is the celebration of the Eucharist. This is not first and foremost the celebration of the life of the person who has died, although that is an important part of the funeral. But the Eucharist is first and foremost the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection, which is our source of hope for the deceased. This Eucharist is properly titled the Mass of Christian Burial. (The Mass of the Resurrection is the Mass for Easter celebrating Christ’s resurrection.)
The Mass of Christian Burial begins with the ministers and family meeting the body of the deceased and escorting it into the church. They pause at the baptismal bowl to sprinkle the casket with holy water, recalling the deceased’s union with Christ through baptism. The family then clothes the casket with the white pall that recalls the baptismal garment.
A member of the family or friend may then give a brief eulogy. This eulogy is not a detailed description of the deceased’s life but rather an evocation of this person so that we have an image of the deceased before us in our prayer.
We then turn to the words of Scripture so that Christ can speak to
us about the meaning of our living and our dying. The deceased’s family
can select appropriate passages from scripture.
We then give thanks (Eucharist) for God’s gifts, especially his
gift of Christ Jesus, in whom we find life in its fullness.
The Mass concludes with a brief prayer of commendation to the Lord. “Eternal rest grant to him/her, O Lord.”
Burial
Christians have an ancient tradition of burying their loved ones in special cemeteries. The Diocese of San Jose has a nearby Catholic cemetery, Gate of Heaven.
Cremation
The Catholic Church permits cremation. This can take place after the funeral Mass if the body of the deceased is going to be brought to the church. Or a memorial Mass can be celebrated at a later date.