Preparing a Funeral Liturgy
MUSIC SUGGESTIONS
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The funeral liturgy of the Church “celebrates the Paschal Mystery of Christ. Those who in baptism have become one with the dead and risen Christ will pass with him from death to life, to be purified in soul and welcomed into the fellowship of the saints in heaven. They look forward in blessed hope to his second coming and the bodily resurrection of the dead. The Church celebrates the eucharistic sacrifice of Christ’s passover for the dead, and offers prayers and petitions for them In the communion of all Christ’s members, the prayers which bring spiritual help to some may bring to others a consoling hope.” |
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—from the Introduction to the Rite of Funerals
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The funeral liturgy at Sacred Heart Parish celebrates the Paschal Mystery and the Christian belief in life everlasting through Word, Sacrament and music. Specific music requests (outside of those listed here) may be honored if the selections express the resurrection of Jesus and the hope of everlasting life. Secular or popular music is inappropriate at the funeral mass since its message does not share the Christian vision of eternal life. It’s best to use these selections at the funeral home or cemetery.
The funeral mass, as with all liturgies, is a communal celebration. Therefore, hymns and acclamations sung by the entire assembly must be given the utmost priority. For this reason, only one “soloist” piece may be sung during the preparation of the gifts.
Songs, hymns and psalms may be selected from the parish hymnal, Gather Comprehensive, as well as from other appropriate sources of liturgical music. Below is a list of suggestions for your consideration.
| Hymn Number and Title | |
| Gathering Song: | 853 Alleluia! Sing to Jesus 443 Alleluia! Alleluia! Give Thanks 775 Canticle of Zachary 600 Faith of Our Fathers 646 I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say 646 578 Lord of All Hopefulness* 614 O God, Our Help In Ages Past 614 551 Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven 635 The King of Love My Shepherd Is* 488 To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King 772 We Shall Rise Again |
| Responsorial Psalm**: | 24 Psalm 16 - You Will Show Me the Path of Life 598 Psalm 16 - Center of My Life 616 Psalm 16 - For You Are My God 636 Psalm 16 - Shelter Me, O God 30 Psalm 23 - My Shepherd Is the Lord 31 Psalm 23 - Shepherd Me, O God 36 Psalm 25 - To You, O Lord 599 Psalm 25 - Hold Me in Life 38 Psalm 27 - In the Land of the Living 39 Psalm 27 - The Lord Is My Light 47 Psalm 34 - Taste and See 48 Psalm 34 - The Cry of the Poor 58 Psalm 54 - The Lord Upholds My Life 59 Psalm 62 - In God Alone 62 Psalm 63 - Your Love Is Finer Than Life 69 Psalm 69 - Turn to the Lord In Your Need 77 Psalm 84 - Happy Are They 85 Psalm 91 - Be With Me 611 Psalm 91 - On Eagle’s Wings 100 Psalm 103 - The Lord Is Kind and Merciful 108 Psalm 116 - I Will Walk In the Presence of God 110 Psalm 116 - The Name of God 118 Psalm 121 - I Lift Up My Eyes 121 Psalm 122 - I Was Glad 127 Psalm 130 - With the Lord There Is Mercy 130 Psalm 134 - In the Silent Hours of Night 604 Psalm 139 - You Are Near 138 Psalm 145 - Our God Is Compassion |
| Preparation of the Gifts: | 785 Ave Maria 608 Be Not Afraid 577 Come My Way, My Truth, My Life 647 Come to Me --- Come to Me and Live --- Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled 594 Dwelling Place 638 Eye Has Not Seen 519 May We Praise You 781 I Sing a Maid* 507 I Want to Walk As a Child of the Light 621 Only In God 726 Make Me a Channel of Your Peace 641 Shepherd of My Heart 590 We Walk By Faith |
| Communion Song: | 823 Behold the Lamb 659 Blest Are They 838 Eat This Bread 828 I Am the Bread of Life 841 In the Breaking of the Bread 884 I Want to Call You 694 Now We Remain 508 We Are The Light of the World 593 We Remember 844 Without Seeing You 649 You Are Mine |
| Procession to the Place of Committal: | 533 All Creatures of Our God and King 425 Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise 433 At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing 678 City of God 437 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today 485 Crown Him With Many Crowns 758 Day Is Done 424 Easter Alleluia 793 For All the Saints 510 I Am the Light of the World 430 I Know That My Redeemer Lives 854 I Know That My Redeemer Lives 857 I Know That My Redeemer Lives 863 In Paradisum 422 Jesus Christ Is Risen Today 528 Joyful, Joyful We Adore You 858 May the Angels Lead You into Paradise 776 Now Let Your Servant Go 444 Now the Green Blade Rises 660 Onward to the Kingdom* 862 Saints of God/Song of Farewell 537 Sing a New Song 435 Sing to the Mountains 442 Sing With All the Saints In Glory 864 Song of Farewell 703 Song of St. Patrick* 446 The Strife Is O’er 794 Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones |
*This song is a traditional Celtic melody and/or text
**Psalms also may be sung in place of hymns anywhere during the funeral liturgy.