Music for the Mass of the Christian Burial

Music is integral to the funeral rites. It allows the community to express convictions and feelings that words alone may fail to convey. It has the power to console and uplift the mourners and to strengthen the unity of the assembly in faith and love. The texts of the songs chosen for a particular celebration should express the paschal mystery of the Lord's suffering, death and triumph over death and should be related to the readings from Scripture.

Since music can evoke strong feelings, the music for the celebration of the funeral rites should be chosen with great care. The music at funerals should support, console, and uplift the participants and should help to create in them a spirit of hope in Christ's victory over death and in the Christian's share in that victory. Secular music (including Broadway tunes) are best used at the wake and avoided at the funeral mass.

Music should be provided for the vigil and funeral liturgy and, whenever possible for the funeral processions and the rite of committal. Many musical settings used by the parish community during the liturgical year may be suitable for use at funerals. Efforts should be made to develop and expand the parish's repertoire for use at funerals.

An organist or other instrumentalist, a cantor, and, whenever possible even a choir should assist the assembly's full participation in singing the songs, responses and acclamations of these rites.

Below are suggestions for this rite.