St. Michael Catholic Parish

Funeral Masses are NOT permitted on:

· Sundays at any time

· Saturdays after 1:00 p.m.

· Holy Days of Obligation

· Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday

Funeral services apart from Mass can be scheduled on most days of the year.

Catholics do not practice inter-communion with members of other Christian communities. Catholics in the state of grace are encouraged to receive communion. Others may come forward for a blessing, indicating their desire to do so by crossing their arms over their chest.

Two persons (family members or friends who are Catholics) may bring forward the bread and wine at the Offertory Procession during the Funeral Mass.

A funeral pall, reminding us of the white garment given at Baptism and therefore symbolizing our life in Christ, may be draped over the casket at the beginning of the Funeral Mass. Family members or friends are welcome to do this, though it may also be done by the priest or deacon.

Casket sprays are removed before the casket is brought into the church. They are replaced at the end of the funeral.

Flowers may be brought from the funeral home or sent directly to the church. They will be placed so as not to obscure the altar, pulpit, tabernacle, or block passage of ministers in the sanctuary. Very few flowers should be brought into the church during Lent.

When the church is decorated for Christmas or Easter, other flowers may seem redundant. You may wish not to bring them to the church during these times. 

A-1 — Job 19:1, 23-27a

A reading from the Book of Job

Job answered Bildad the Shuhite and said: Oh, would that my words were written down! Would that they were inscribed in a record:  That with an iron chisel and with lead they were cut in the rock forever! But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust;

The Word of the Lord.

A-2 — Wisdom 3:1-6

A reading from the Book of Wisdom

The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction.  But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect.

The Word of the Lord.

A-3 — Isaiah 25:6, 7-9

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said: "Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!  This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"

The Word of the Lord

A-4 … Lamentations 3:17-26

A reading from the Book of Lamentations

My soul is deprived of peace, I have forgotten what happiness is; I tell myself my future is lost, all that I hoped for from the LORD. The thought of my homeless poverty is worm wood and gall; remembering it over and over leaves my soul downcast within me. But I will call this to mind, as my reason to have hope: The favors of the LORD are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent; they are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness.  My portion is the LORD, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him. Good is the LORD to one who waits for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the LORD.

The Word of the Lord

A-5 … Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

A reading from the Letter of Ecclesiastes

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build.  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What advantage has the worker from his toil? I have considered the task which God has appointed for all to be busied about. He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without one's ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done. I recognize that there is nothing better than to be glad and to do well during life.  For everyone, moreover, to eat and drink and enjoy the fruit of all his labor is a gift of God.  I recognized that whatever God does will endure forever; there is no adding to it, or taking from it. Thus has God done that he may be revered.  What now is has already been; what is to be, already is; and God restores what would otherwise be displaced. 

The Word of the Lord

A-6 … 2Maccabees 12:43-46

A reading from the second Book of Maccabees

Judas, the ruler of Israel, took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But, if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin. 

The Word of the Lord 

B-1 … Romans 5:5-11

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters: Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps       for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

The Word of the Lord.

B-2 … Romans 6:3-9

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters:  Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.

The Word of the Lord.

B-3 … Romans 8:14-23

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters:  Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, Abba, “Father!” The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

The Word of the Lord.

 B-4  … Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters: If God is for us, who can be against us? He did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things, we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Word of the Lord.

B-5 … Romans 14:7-9, 10c-12

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters: No one lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why then do you judge your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God. So then each of us shall give an accounting of himself to God.

The Word of the Lord.

B-6 … 2 Corinthians 4:14-5:1

A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters: We know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God. Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal. For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a  dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

The Word of the Lord.

B-7 … 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10

A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters: We know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven. We are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

The Word of the Lord.

B-8 … 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore, console one another with these words.

The Word of the Lord.

B-9 … Revelation 21:1-5a, 6b-7

A reading from the Book of Revelation

I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.” The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift of water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.
The Word of the Lord.

B-10… Revelation 14:13

A reading from the Book of Revelation 

I, John, heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” said the Spirit, “let them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany them.”

The Word of the Lord.

B-11 … 1 John 3:1-2

A reading from the first Letter of Saint John

Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,  for we shall see him as he is. 

The Word of the Lord.

B-12 … Acts of the Apostles 10:34-36, 42-43

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Peter proceeded to speak, saying: “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. You know the word that he sent to the children of Israel as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.” 

The Word of the Lord.

B-13 … 2 Timothy 2:8-13

A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy

Beloved: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: Such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal.

But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him; If we persevere, we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself. 

The Word of the Lord.

Lector:     Please respond, “Lord, hear our prayer.”

Lector:     For __________________________ who in baptism was given the pledge of eternal life, that he/she may now be admitted 
 to the company of the saints. We pray to the Lord. 

ALL:  Lord, hear our prayer.

Lector:  For our brother/sister who ate the Body of Christ, 
 the Bread of Life, that he may be raised up on the last day. 
 We pray to the Lord. 

ALL:  Lord, hear our prayer.

Lector:  For our deceased relatives and friends and for all who have helped us, that they may have the reward of their goodness. 
 We pray to the Lord. 

ALL:  Lord, hear our prayer.

Lector:  For those who have fallen asleep in the hope of rising again, that they may see God face to face. We pray to the Lord.

ALL:  Lord, hear our prayer.

Lector:  For the family and friends of our brother/sister ____________, that they may be consoled in their grief by the Lord, who wept at the death of his friend, Lazarus. We pray to the Lord.

ALL:  Lord, hear our prayer.

Lector:  For all of us gathered here to worship in faith, 
 that we may be gathered together again in God’s kingdom. 
 We pray to the Lord. 

ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.