May God give to you and all whom you love his comfort and his peace, his light and his joy, in this world and the next; and the blessing of God almighty, the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you, and remain with you this day and for ever. Amen.
“The final commendation is a final farewell by the members of the community, an act of respect for one of their members, whom they entrust to the tender and merciful embrace of God; an affirmation that the community, the deceased, baptized into one Body, share the same destiny, resurrection on the last day,” (Order of ...
May the strength of God sustain us; may the power of God preserve us; may the hands of God protect us; may the way of God direct us; may the love of God go with us this day (night) and forever. Amen. The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make His face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us.
The last rites, also known as the Commendation of the Dying, are the last prayers and ministrations given to an individual of Christian faith, when possible, shortly before death. They may be administered to those awaiting execution, mortally injured, or terminally ill.
As the Mass comes to a close, the priest gives a blessing to all the faithful gathered to celebrate the Eucharist. A blessing is a solemn act that calls upon and invokes the aid of God upon the person, asking that God grant him divine favor and sanctification.
Catholic Prayer for the Deceased
Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
Legally, it is up to the deceased's executor or personal representative to make decisions about their funeral and burial, although executors often feel morally bound to follow the testator's wishes.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
A gesture, for example, signing the forehead of the deceased with the sign of the cross, may accompany the following words. Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord. R: And let perpetual light shine upon him/her. May he/she rest in peace.
For Catholics, the funeral mass carries great importance, as it represents the soul being returned to God and passing over into the afterlife. It also provides a chance for people to pray for the person who has passed, and for their family.
Visitation, Wake or Viewing
Held the night before or immediately prior to the funeral service, the visitation – also called a wake or a viewing – provides a way for friends and acquaintances to pay respects and offer condolences.
At the funeral
There's also some funeral service etiquette to follow on the day itself. For the funeral procession, the etiquette for who goes in funeral cars is usually immediate family after the hearse, followed by other family members and friends, then others who were important to your loved one.
Family members, friends, clergy, and/or funeral conductors often give eulogies. At very religious funerals it is common for only clergy to deliver eulogies. However, even at many religious funerals it is common for others to deliver eulogies as well.
I commend you, my dear brother/sister, to Almighty God, and entrust you to your Creator. May you return to him who formed you from the dust of the earth. May holy Mary, the angels, and all the saints come to meet you as you go forth from this life. May Christ who was crucified for you bring you freedom and peace.
“The Rosary is the most excellent form of prayer and the most efficacious means of attaining eternal life. It is the remedy for all our evils, the root of all our blessings. There is no more excellent way of praying.” – Saint Pope Leo XIII.
Fill this funeral service with your presence. Let your light shine upon our hearts, that we may be able to give our last respects lovingly. Let your grace be upon each individual that is in this place. In Jesus' name, we pray.
In a eulogy, do not say anything about the person's cause of death, grudges and old grievances, arguments, character flaws, family rifts, or negative memories. Instead, share good memories and leave it out when in doubt.
Additionally, a family member or close friend cannot speak these words - instead, they must come from the lips of a priest or a deacon. It should be noted this stringent guideline is not universally followed, as some churches are more relaxed about this requirement.
Traditionally, the order of family in a funeral procession is direct family immediately behind the hearse, followed by close family and friends. Then others who were important to your loved one might join the procession, like neighbours, carers or colleagues.
It is important to remember that, when carrying a coffin or casket, the person inside is always carried feet first – the only exception is a vicar, who is carried head first to face their congregation. Coffins are carried feet first simply because of health and safety, rather than any kind of ceremonial tradition.
In general, if you're on good terms with your ex-spouse and ex-family, you should attend the funeral. You were a big part of your spouse's life at one time.
Cenotaph - a grave where the body is not present; a memorial erected as over a grave, but at a place where the body has not been interred. A cenotaph may look exactly like any other grave in terms of marker and inscription.
Condolence Money (Bai Jin) at Buddhist Funerals
Monetary gifts also known as 'pek kim' or 'bai jin', is a common tradition in not only Buddhist funerals but also in most chinese funerals. Usually, the money is kept inside a white envelope.
We sometimes hear the after-funeral reception is referred to as a “repast.” Historically, the repast was a meal shared by close friends and family after the funeral. In modern times, the nature of the repast has evolved to include larger gatherings. For some, a close intimate meal is still the order of the day.