In Catholicism, is the Eucharist observed during funerals?
score:3
A funeral Mass is a common practice
A Mass is by definition a Eucharistic Celebration
As @AthanasiusOfAlex pointed out, a funeral is not required to be conducted in the form of the Mass, but for Catholics it is a common practice. (Anecdote: In the past five years, I've been to nine Catholic funerals, and all were celebrated as funeral Masses). In the case where a deacon, rather than a priest, is the clergyman present for the funeral, a funeral would not be performed as a Mass.
As ministers of Sacrament, deacons baptize, lead the faithful in prayer, witness marriages, and conduct wake and funeral services. (Source = US Conference of Catholic Bishops)
There are also certain days that a funeral Mass will not be held, Holy Thursday through Holy Saturday included. (Thanks @Eques and @AthanasiusofAlex)
When the funeral rite takes that form, it is worth remembering that a funeral Mass is still a Mass, which is a Eucharistic celebration. When celebrated as a Mass, it follows the usual form of the Mass -- Liturgy of the Word followed by Liturgy of the Eucharist -- which includes receiving Communion for those who are Catholic, and who are not under the burden of mortal sin. During the second half (after the homily) the liturgy of the Eucharist includes the celebrant offering and the faithful receiving the Body of Christ and the Most Precious Blood of Christ.
There are a number of references in the 3d edition of the Roman Missal that provide additional guidance and instructions to the clergy concerning the funeral Mass (a word search finds 26 separate uses of the word "funeral"), none of which make particular mention of Communion. On pages 1371 and 1372 of the linked version are some recommended prayers for the occasion of a funeral Mass.
Your friend was worried for no reason, however, being unfamiliar and even puzzled with the Roman rite is not uncommon for those who do not usually attend Catholic Mass. It is not surprising that he wasn't completely at ease with a celebration foreign to his tradition and practice. (When I attended my first few Masses, before I became a part of the Church, it took a bit of getting used to).
Funerals are for the living, so the best one can do at such an occasion is to be respectful of the family and friends of the deceased, and to be as polite and kind as possible.
More post
- 📝 Was Onan really struck dead by God for masturbating?
- 📝 Do any non-Swedenborgian Christian denominations have a smaller biblical canon than Protestantism?
- 📝 If God is perfect; why was the first covenant faulty?
- 📝 Does a history exist of the origin and development of the Latter-day Saint teaching of a premortal existence?
- 📝 How do Creationist Christians respond to the evidence for Evolution?
- 📝 Who was St. Joseph's Father? The New Testament seems to give two answers
- 📝 Which mountain is the "Prophet Mountain" Anne Catherine Emmerich mentions in her writings?
- 📝 What verses in the Bible indicate that Apostles expected Christ to come back very soon?
- 📝 When was the first appearance of the term "Peccatum Gravis" in Catholic Theology?
- 📝 What is the earliest record of using icons to worship God in the Catholic or Orthodox traditions?
- 📝 What was Paul's "revelation" (mentioned in Galatians 2:2)?
- 📝 What are the requirements for each of the three levels of Glory?
- 📝 How does leaving a 'gift at the altar' reconcile with reformed views of the need to 'approach the throne of grace' in everything?
- 📝 When did "tithing" come to mean "giving 10% of your gross income to the Church"?
- 📝 What does Paul mean by "Love believes all things?"
- 📝 Does the LDS discuss the issue of LDS children "playing Sacrament"?
- 📝 What is the purpose and meaning of the Christian Flag?
- 📝 Baptism of grandchildren
- 📝 Does God ever answer prayers from non-believers?
- 📝 Why the word "REgenerate" according to the Calvinist?
- 📝 According to Protestantism, does repentance always have to include Godly mourning?
- 📝 What is the significance of Palm branches?
- 📝 What is the basis for the belief that there were twelve Magi?
- 📝 Did Pope Benedict XVI grant permission for heterosexual couples to use artificial birth control methods?
- 📝 Did Jerome’s doctrine of Mariology affect his translation?
- 📝 How is Pride the enemy of Hope?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for believing that the Feast Days / Appointed Festivals / Holy Convocations are still morally binding for Christians today?
- 📝 Does Christianity say that the events that happen to us are from God?
- 📝 Are there instances of miracles that are officially recognized by non-Catholic denominations?
- 📝 Are Christians not permitted to have sex with wife when she's on her period?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 In Catholicism, is the Eucharist observed during funerals?
- 📝 Why are the bread and wine mixed together in the Holy Eucharist during an Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy?
- 📝 How is the feet-washing ritual observed during Lent?
- 📝 Where Catholicism lost influence and property during the reformation, what did Luther think should be done with the acquired assets?
- 📝 Are there any Catholic directives (rubrics) from the 17th to 19th century about what to do/pray/think during Eucharist Adoration?
- 📝 As a protestant, may I participate in the Eucharist (Communion) when visiting a Catholic church?
- 📝 How could Jesus be born during the reign of Herod, and when Quirinius was governor of Syria, if those periods were not contemporary?
- 📝 Do the Catholic Church ex cathedra pronouncements about necessity of Catholicism to be saved still apply?
- 📝 Where was Jesus during the period from His death to resurruction?
- 📝 How common were blasphemy accusations and trials among the Jews during the time of Jesus?
- 📝 What is the basis for the practice of Intinction (the dipping of the bread into wine during the Eucharist)?
- 📝 Where, exactly, were Christ's body and soul during the Descendit?
- 📝 Which cup of wine did Jesus tell his disciples to drink during the Last Supper?
- 📝 What happens to those saved during the millennial reign that die? (Premillennialist perspective)
- 📝 How do Protestants who say Catholicism doesn't teach the true Gospel understand a Catholic person’s faith in Jesus?
- 📝 What substitutes for prayers for the Pope's intentions during sede vacante?
- 📝 What were the major disagreements between Erasmus and Luther during the Protestant Reformation?
- 📝 Do Catholics eat the substance of the Father during "communion"?
- 📝 Was the temple built in 46 years or was it 46 years old during Jesus' time?
- 📝 What happens if someone spills the wine during the Eucharist?
- 📝 How is the 'New Perspective on Paul' different from Catholicism with respect to good works?
- 📝 What was the difference between Ratramnus's view of the Eucharist and that of Calvin?
- 📝 What's the tradition behind hand holding during the Our Father at Mass?
- 📝 At the greater emergence of democracy in Europe during the 'Enlightenment' did the papacy support democracy?
- 📝 What languages were used during Mass from paleo-Christianty until the Council of Trent?
- 📝 What is the earliest mention of how often the Eucharist was celebrated?
- 📝 During communion, when does the wafer stop being Jesus' body?
- 📝 According to reformed theology, who or what will the saints reign over during the millenium?
- 📝 Can a priest give a Mass in American Sign Language (ASL)? What does he do when he is supposed to lift up the Eucharist while speaking in ASL?
- 📝 Are funerals a way to reduce the time of the dead in purgatory