Rite of Christian Burial
Our Deepest Sympathy... The pastor, the parish staff, and the parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes offer our prayerful support at this time of your loss. We want you to know that we are willing to help. We are also aware that we cannot take away your pain, but we hope to be able to assist you in whatever way possible as you attempt to find God's loving presence even in the midst of suffering. Please call Father Brickner at 419-929-4401
Some Pastoral Considerations
The Catholic Church celebrates the Rites of Christian Burial chiefly for two reasons (as given in The Order of Christian Funerals, article four):
"The Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased"
"The Church ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them with the Word of God and the Sacrament of the Eucharist."At Our Lady of Lourdes we follow these considerations in many ways. Our Lady of Lourdes celebrates the Rites of Christian Burial for all those who seek them. We celebrate the Rites of a Christian Burial for baptized Catholics. The Catholic Church also permits the rites to be celebrated for unbaptized children (of Catholic families) as well as baptized members of non-Catholic communities of faith. While the Catholic Church continues to encourage the custom of burying the dead, cremation is permitted. Where cremation is to take place, the following are the options for a funeral liturgy:
The body may be brought to the church for the funeral Mass and then cremation follows.
A service of prayer and Scripture reading may take place in the funeral home with cremation following. Please note that it is the Church's expectation that out of respect for the remains of the deceased, the ashes of cremated persons should be buried or entombed. The Rite of Christian Burial provides for a variety of prayerful celebrations. While the traditional practice is the celebration of a funeral Mass, circumstances may dictate a preference for a service of Scripture and prayer in the funeral home (and/or at the cemetery). This might be appropriate where the family or loved ones are not of the Catholic faith, or where the deceased has never been an active Catholic. If there are questions regarding this matter, the pastoral staff would be happy to discuss them with the family.
Scriptural Readings for Funerals
Hymnody for Funerals
Guidelines for the Reception of Communion in Catholic Churches
For Catholics:
As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Holy Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Holy Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason when there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition including the intention of confession as soon as possible.
For Fellow Christians:
We welcome our fellow Christians to the celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us close to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions that separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear in keeping with Christ's prayer for us "that they may all be one" (John 17:21). Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires the permission of the diocesan bishop.
For Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church:
They are urged to respect the discipline of their own churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, canon law does not object to their reception of communion.
For Those Not Receiving Holy Communion:
All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayer for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another. For Non-Christians:
We also welcome to the celebration of the Eucharist those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and unity of the human family.
Our Deepest Sympathy... The pastor, the parish staff, and the parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes offer our prayerful support at this time of your loss. We want you to know that we are willing to help. We are also aware that we cannot take away your pain, but we hope to be able to assist you in whatever way possible as you attempt to find God's loving presence even in the midst of suffering. Please call Father Brickner at 419-929-4401
Some Pastoral Considerations
The Catholic Church celebrates the Rites of Christian Burial chiefly for two reasons (as given in The Order of Christian Funerals, article four):
"The Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased"
"The Church ministers to the sorrowing and consoles them with the Word of God and the Sacrament of the Eucharist."At Our Lady of Lourdes we follow these considerations in many ways. Our Lady of Lourdes celebrates the Rites of Christian Burial for all those who seek them. We celebrate the Rites of a Christian Burial for baptized Catholics. The Catholic Church also permits the rites to be celebrated for unbaptized children (of Catholic families) as well as baptized members of non-Catholic communities of faith. While the Catholic Church continues to encourage the custom of burying the dead, cremation is permitted. Where cremation is to take place, the following are the options for a funeral liturgy:
The body may be brought to the church for the funeral Mass and then cremation follows.
A service of prayer and Scripture reading may take place in the funeral home with cremation following. Please note that it is the Church's expectation that out of respect for the remains of the deceased, the ashes of cremated persons should be buried or entombed. The Rite of Christian Burial provides for a variety of prayerful celebrations. While the traditional practice is the celebration of a funeral Mass, circumstances may dictate a preference for a service of Scripture and prayer in the funeral home (and/or at the cemetery). This might be appropriate where the family or loved ones are not of the Catholic faith, or where the deceased has never been an active Catholic. If there are questions regarding this matter, the pastoral staff would be happy to discuss them with the family.
Scriptural Readings for Funerals
Hymnody for Funerals
Guidelines for the Reception of Communion in Catholic Churches
For Catholics:
As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Holy Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Holy Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason when there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition including the intention of confession as soon as possible.
For Fellow Christians:
We welcome our fellow Christians to the celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us close to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions that separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear in keeping with Christ's prayer for us "that they may all be one" (John 17:21). Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires the permission of the diocesan bishop.
For Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church:
They are urged to respect the discipline of their own churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, canon law does not object to their reception of communion.
For Those Not Receiving Holy Communion:
All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayer for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another. For Non-Christians:
We also welcome to the celebration of the Eucharist those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and unity of the human family.