Order of Christian Funerals

Lectionary Readings

Related Pages

Masses for the Dead

First Reading from the Old Testament — Outside the Easter Season
Each reading is paired with a recommended psalm. psalm
1 Job 19:1. 23–27 This I know: that my Avenger lives. 26
2 Wisdom 3:1–9 He accepted them as a holocaust 114
shorter Wisdom 3:1–6. 9 He accepted them as a holocaust 114
3 Wisdom 4:7–15 Untarnished life, this is ripe old age. 22 r.4
4 Isaiah 25:6–9 The Lord will destroy Death for ever. 22 r.1
5 Lamentations 3:17–26 It is good to wait in silence for the Lord to save. 24
6 Daniel 12:1–3 Those who lie sleeping in the dust will awake. 41
7 2 Maccabees 12:43–45 A fine and noble action, in which he took account of the resurrection. 102
First Reading from the New Testament — In the Easter Season
Each reading is paired with a recommended psalm. psalm
1 Acts 10:34–43 God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. 62
shorter Acts 10:34–36. 42–43 God has appointed Jesus to judge everyone, alive or dead. 62
2 Apocalypse 14:13 Happy are those who die in the Lord! 129
3 Apocalypse 20:11–21:1 The dead are judged according to what they had done in their lives. 142
4 Apocalypse 21:1–7 There will be no more death. 121
Responsorial Psalm
1 Ps 22 r.1 The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
2 Ps 22 r.4 If I should walk in the valley of darkness
no evil would I fear,
for you are there with me.
3 Ps 24:6–7. 17–18. 20–21 r.1 or 3 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. or
Those who hope in you, O Lord, shall not be disappointed.
4 Ps 26:1.4.7–9. 13–14 r. 1 or 12 The Lord is my light and my help. or
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.
5 Ps 41:2. 3. 5 r.3 My soul is thirsting fro God , the God of my life.
6 Ps 62:2–6. 8–9 r.2 For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God.
7 Ps 102: 8. 10. 13–18 r. 8
or Ps 36:39		 The Lord is compassion and love. or
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
8 Ps 114:5–6;
Ps 115:10–11. 15–16 r. 114:9		 I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living. or
Alleluia!
9 Ps 121 r. 1 or cf. 1 I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’ or
Let us go to God’s house, rejoicing.
10 Ps 129 r.1 or cf. 5 Out of the depths, I cry to you, O Lord. or
I wait for the Lord, I count on his word.
11 Ps 142:1–2. 5–8. 10 r.1 Lord, listen to my prayer.
Second Reading from the New Testament
1 Romans 5:5–11 Having died to make us righteous,
is it likely that he would now fail to save us from God’s anger.
2 Romans 5:17–21 However great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater.
3 Romans 6:3–9 Let us live a new life.
shorter Romans 6:3–4. 8–9 Let us live a new life.
4 Romans 8:14–23 We wait for our bodies to be set free.
5 Romans 8:31–35. 37–39 Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ.
6 Romans 14:7–12 Alive or dead, we belong to the Lord.
7 1 Corinthians 15:20–28 All men will be brought to life in Christ.
shorter 1 Corinthians 15:20–23 All men will be brought to life in Christ.
8 1 Corinthians 15:51–57 Death is swallowed up in victory.
9 2 Corinthians 4:14–5:1 Visible thiongs last only for a time, but the invisible are eternal.
10 2 Corinthians 5:1. 6–10 We have an everlasting home in heaven.
11 Philippians 3:20–21 He will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body.
12 Thessalonians 4:13–18 We shall stay with the Lord for ever.
13 2 Timothy 2:8–13 If we die with him, then we shall live with him.
14 1 John 3:1–2 We shall see him as he really is.
15 1 John 3:14–16 We have passed our of death and into life because we love our brothers.
Gospel Acclamation
1 Cf. Matthew 11:25 Blessed are you, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth;
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children.
2 Matthew 25:34 Come, you whom my Father has blessed,
says the Lord;
take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you
since the foundation of the world.
3 John 3:16 God loved the world so much
that we gave his only Son;
everyone who believes in him has eternal life.
4 John 6:39 It is my Father’s will, says the Lord,
that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me,
and that I should raise it up on the last day.
5 John 6:40 It is my Father’s will, says the Lord,
that whoever believes in the Son shall have eternal life,
and that I shall raise him up on the last day.
6 John 6:51–52 I am the living bread which has come down from heaven,
says the Lord.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.
7 John 11:25–26 I am the resurrection and the life,
says the Lord:
whoever believes in me will never die.
8 Philippians 3:20 Our homeland is in heaven,
and from heaven comes the Saviour we are waiting for,
the Lord Jesus Christ.
9 2 Timothy 2:11–12 If we have died with Christ, then we shall live with him;
if we hold firm, then we shall reign with him.
10 Apocalypse 1:5–6 Jesus Christ is the First-born from the dead;
to him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen
11 Apocalypse 14:13 Happy are those who die in the Lord!
Now they can rest for ever after their work,
since their good deeds go with them.
Gospel
Gospel Readings are paired with a recommended Gospel Acclamation
1 Matthew 5:1–12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. 2
2 Matthew 11:25–30 Come to me, and I will give you rest. 1
3 Matthew 25:1–13 The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him. 8
4 Matthew 25:31–46 Come, you whom my Father has blessed 2
5 Mark 15:22–29; 16:1–6 Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 9
shorter Mark 15:33–39 Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 9
6 Luke 7:11–17 Young man, I tell you to get up. 7
7 Luke 12:35–40 Stand ready 8
8 Luke 23:33. 39–43 Today you will be with me in paradise. 11
9 Luke 23:44-46. 50. 52–53; 24:1–6 Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. 10
shorter Luke 23:44–46. 50. 52–53 Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. 10
10 Luke 24:13–35 Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and enter into his glory? 3
shorter Luke 24:13–16. 28–35 Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and enter into his glory? 3
11 John 5:24–29 Whoever listens to my words and believes has passed from death to life. 2
12 John 6:37–40 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day. 4
13 John 6:51–58 Anyone who eats this bread has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day. 6
14 John 11:17–27 I am the resurrection and the life. 7
shorter John 11:21–27 I am the resurrection and the life. 7
15 John 11:32–45 Lazarus, come out 3
16 John 12:23–28 If a wheat grain dies, it yields a rich harvest. 11
shorter John 12:23–26 If a wheat grain dies, it yields a rich harvest. 11
17 John 14:1–6 There are many rooms in my Father’s house 5
18 John 17:24–26 I want them to be with me where I am. 4
19 John 19:17–18. 25–30 Bowing his head he gave up his spirit. 7

For the Burial of Children

a. Burial of Baptised Children
First Reading from the Old Testament — Outside the Easter Season
Each reading is paired with a recommended psalm. psalm
1 Isaiah 25:6. 7–9 The Lord will destroy Death for ever. 22
2 Lamentations 3:22–26 It is good to wait in silence for the Lord to save. 24
First Reading from the New Testament — In the Easter Season
Each reading is paired with a recommended psalm. psalm
1 Apocalypse 7:9–10. 15–17 God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. 148
2 Apocalypse 21:1. 3–5 There will be no more death. 41
Responsorial Psalm
1 Ps 22 r.1 The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
2 Ps 24:4–7. 20–21 r. 1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
3 Ps 41:2–3. 5; 42:3–5 r Ps 41:3 My soul is thirsting for God, the God of my life.
4 Ps 148: 1–2. 11–14 r.13 Praise the name of the Lord. or
Alleluia!
Second Reading from the New Testament
1 Romans 6:3–4. 8–9 We believe that we shall return to life with Christ.
2 Romans 14:7–9 Alive or dead, we belong to the Lord.
3 1 Corinthians 15:20–23 All men will be brought to life in Christ,
4 Ephesians 1:3–5 Before the world was made God chose us in Christ.
5 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14. 18 We shall stay with the Lord for ever.
Gospel Acclamation
1 Cf. Matthew 11:25 Blessed are you, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth;
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children.
2 John 6:39 It is my Father’s will, says the Lord,
that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me,
and that I should raise it up on the last day.
3 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 Blessed be God, a gentle Father
and the God of all consolation,
who comforts us in all our sorrows.
Gospel
Gospels are paired with a recommended Gospel Acclamation
1 Matthew 11:25–30 You have hidden these things from the clever, and have revealed them to mere children 1
2 John 6:37–40 It is my Father’s will that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me. 2
shorter John 6:37–39 It is my Father’s will that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me. 2
3 John 6:51–58 Anyone who eats this bread has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day.
 [For a child who has received the eucharist]		 2
4 John 11:32–38.40 If you believe, you will see the glory of God. 3
5 John 19:25–30 This is your mother 3
b Burial of Non-baptised Children
First Reading from the Old Testament — Outside the Easter Season
Each reading is paired with a recommended psalm. psalm
1 Isaiah 25:6–8 The Lord will destroy Death for ever. 24
2 Lamentations 3:22–26 It is good to wait in silence for the Lord to save. 24
Responsorial Psalm
1 Ps 24:4–7. 17. 20 r. 1 or 3 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. or
Those who hope in you, O Lord, shall not be disappointed.
Gospel Acclamation
1 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 Blessed be God, a gentle Father
and the God of all consolation,
who comforts us in all our sorrows.
2 Apocalypse 1:5–6 Jesus Christ is the First-born from the dead;
to him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
Gospel
Gospels are paired with a recommended Gospel Acclamation
1 Matthew 11:25–30 You have hidden these things from the clever, and have revealed them to mere children 2
2 Mark 15:33–46 Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 1
3 John 19:25–30 This is your mother. 1