Christian funerals rich in symbolism and meaning

By Therese Horvat Special to The Leaven

Just as the recent global pandemic impacted many dimensions of daily life and work routines, it also affected people’s participation in rituals associated with funerals.

At the height of the pandemic when churches closed, families couldn’t hold vigils and funeral Masses in their parishes with relatives and friends in attendance. Sharon Vallejo, president of Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas, said that once churches reopened for liturgies and gatherings, it became the new normal for people to opt out of one or more parts of what the church identifies as the Order of Christian Funerals.

“Often today, people are choosing to have a private committal service at the cemetery or a ‘direct burial,’” Vallejo explained. “This eliminates the vigil and funeral Mass. Families frequently arrange memorial services at a later date to commemorate the lives of their loved ones.”

Vallejo and two priests who are past board members of Catholic Cemeteries believe this turn of events presents an opportunity to revisit and educate Catholics about the deep spiritual and emotional significance of each of the three parts of the Order of Christian Funerals — both for those who have died and for those who are grieving.

Father Jerry Volz, immediate past chairman of the Catholic Cemeteries board of trustees, said that it is the practice and custom of the Catholic Church and its parishes to be involved with families and individuals experiencing loss. This allows people to show reverence as they pray for and remember the deceased and to offer comfort and consolation to those who are mourning. The three parts of the Order of Christian Funerals provide distinct but interrelated settings for these expressions of respect and sympathy.

THE VIGIL Time for remembering, offering support

The first part, the vigil, offers a more relaxed and informal time for friends to acknowledge and support the family and to remember the deceased in the context of a prayer service. Father Richard McDonald, pastor of Holy Angels Parish in Basehor, and a past board member of Catholic Cemeteries, said that when held the night before the funeral, the vigil affords those unable to attend the daytime Mass the chance to express condolences, exchange stories and celebrate the deceased person.

Father Volz, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Lawrence, points out that vigil prayer services have become increasingly rare today. More often than not, the vigil has given way to visitations that immediately precede the funeral Mass. Appropriately planned and timed, the visitation can serve the purpose of the vigil with readings from Scripture, remembrances by family and friends, or possibly the praying of the rosary.

THE MASS Pre-eminent prayer

In Father McDonald’s estimation, the funeral Mass — the second part of the Order of Christian Funerals — is the pre-eminent prayer for the deceased. “It’s called a ‘requiem’ because we gather to lay people to rest – granting a sense of peace both for those who have died and for those who accompanied them through life. We give the person over to God in what should be a wonderful and loving send-off.”

Father McDonald suggested that the funeral Mass include hymns and Scripture readings that match the tastes and sensibilities of the deceased. Both priests encouraged families to consider the Mass as the most central part of the Order of Christian Funerals; they said it is also likely the least expensive of the rites.

Recognizing that many people avoid dealing with last things such as death and funeral plans, Fathers McDonald and Volz emphasize the importance of preplanning and communicating endof-life arrangements to ensure that personal wishes are carried out. Father McDonald recommends formalizing these preferences through a legal document or a power of attorney statement that clearly specifies a person’s wishes for his/her final disposition and funeral. This will leave nothing to chance or the choices of relatives or friends.

Committal

Final farewell

The committal is the third part of the Order of Christian Funerals. It’s the final ritual that signifies giving the soul and body of the deceased back to God. Gathered at the graveside, crematorium or mausoleum, family members and friends see that their loved one is safely buried or entombed. If the ritual occurs in a non-Catholic cemetery, the priest or deacon blesses the ground or the site. Catholic Cemeteries’ grounds are consecrated and are thus an extension of the Catholic Church.

At the conclusion of a gravesite ritual, Father McDonald invites those gathered to sprinkle holy water or to place dirt or flowers over the coffin. This final gesture is yet one more time to convey love and appreciation for the person who has died.

“As a whole, the three parts of the Order of Christian Funerals form a symbolic and meaningful remembrance of the deceased and respect for his/her remains, and a source of comfort for those mourning the loss,” said Vallejo.

Father McDonald added that the three parts also provide multiple opportunities to involve different family members and friends in the rituals as readers, speakers, pallbearers or in other roles. He considers the funeral luncheon as an extension of hospitality and support.

While costs related to end-of-life arrangements have escalated, Father Volz says that Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas offers tools to help people plan financially in the form of insurance policies and a planning guide (www.cathcemks.org). He also recommends the book “Hope to Die: The Christian Meaning of Death and the Resurrection of the Body” by Scott Hahn as an in-depth reflection on death and burial from a Catholic perspective.