"Christians celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life which has now been returned to God, the author of life and the hope of the just. The Mass, the memorial of Christ's death and resurrection, is the principal celebration of the Christian funeral." ~General Introduction to the Order of Christian Funerals, §5When a loved one dies, those left behind are filled with the conflicting emotions of intense sorrow and grief, coupled with Christian joy and thankfulness that the suffering is over and everlasting life in heaven is beginning. The Roman Catholic funeral rites offer a beautiful, profound journey through grief and loss to the joy of anticipation of the resurrection of the dead.
Here are some of the choices you'll need to communicate to the parish:
The Catholic Church offers a wide selection of Scripture readings for the funeral rites. You will likely find excellent readings from among this list, but you may choose another Scripture reading if another passage is particularly appropriate for you or your loved one. You will need to choose 4 scripture readings for the Mass
The first and second readings may be proclaimed by a family member or friend, or you may ask the priest to read them. The readers should have a good grasp of the principles of proclaiming the Word of God in public. Be sure to give them a copy of the reading in advance, and encourage them to practice the reading at the ambo in church to get the feel of the acoustics and the microphone. The responsorial psalm should preferably be sung by the cantor, but it can be recited if necessary. All the passages listed below from the Order of Christian Funerals can be found in the translation used for liturgy at USSCB.
The music for the funeral liturgy, as the music at all Catholic liturgy, should encourage the participation of all those present in sung prayer.