A Funeral Tribute - A Fitting Remembrance for the Deceased

The death of a member of the family is sure to bring intense pain and heartbreak to the other family members. Sometimes the pain is so strong that the surviving family members are overcome by grief and they feel as if the world has just stopped revolving. There's nothing wrong with grieving. However, bereaved family members must also take the opportunity presented by the unfortunate event to commemorate the life of their loved one and pay him a fitting funeral tribute.

There actually are a lot of ways a family can pay tribute to a member who passed away. The most common is through a memorial service. Almost everyone from all walks of life, no matter what religion they practice, prepare a memorial service for their departed loved ones although the way the service is conducted varies depending on several factors like cultural customs and traditions, family budget and belief of the deceased.

Repose

This type of funeral tribute often includes prayers for the repose of the soul, a eulogy which is normally delivered by an immediate family member, and funeral readings which can be done by close friends and relatives and in some cases, the offering of songs or hymns. All materials used for all these are usually chosen by the bereaved family or, if the death was something anticipated, the person who died could have chosen the reading materials and songs to be offered during his service in advance.

On the whole, it doesn't really matter how the bereaved family decides to hold the funeral tribute. What matters is that they did so in remembrance of their deceased loved one and to honor his memory in the most fitting way possible.

A Funeral Tribute - A Fitting Remembrance for the Deceased

The best place on the web to view and find tribute templates for funeral programs is The Funeral Program Site. This website has a solid reputation of designing quality program templates for Microsoft Word, Publisher, and Apple iWork Pages. There is also a beautiful selection of templates for funeral prayer cards, thank you cards, funeral poems, memorial bookmarks, and funeral booklets.

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Catholic Funeral Readings

Catholic funeral services follow some relatively formal guidelines. However, times are changing and today some priests will design a special service which incorporates the traditions of the Catholic church with modern funeral readings, songs, or sermons.

A rosary or prayer service is held prior to the funeral and sometimes a wake (with an open casket, if desired) is held at the funeral home on the evening before the funeral service. Often, the bereaved family will request donations to a certain charity is made.

Repose

Many also choose to make a donation to the church in memory of the deceased. Friends and family of the deceased also request that a mass be said for the repose of the soul. The body is taken from the funeral home and taken to the church where the funeral Mass is held with closed casket.

After the Mass, the attendees proceed to the grave site for an additional ceremony and prayers are performed. Catholics are now able to choose cremation as an alternative to burial, which was once forbidden by the church law.

Catholic funeral readings can consist of biblical selections from the Liturgy of the Word Old and New Testament. The bereaved family members may request particular verses if desired to the priest for inclusion at the service.

The Catholic church usually has a Bereavement Ministry to help assist you in the planning of the Funeral Mass and help suggest ways for family and friends to be personally involved.

A sample of the Catholic funeral Mass includes opening rites for the receipt of body at the door, blessing with holy water, procession to alter with an opening song, penitential rite and opening prayer.

The Liturgy of the Word includes the first Catholic funeral readings from the Old Testament, a responsorial psalm or song, a second reading from the New Testament, Alleluia song, a reading by the priest from one of the Gospels, a homily given by the priest, prayer, a lighting of a candle for remembrance and a closing song. The readings are taken from specific sections from the Liturgy of the Word so it provides readings from both biblical books.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist consists of an optional presentation of the gifts, Eucharistic prayer, the Lord's prayer/sign of peace, communion and a song, and a personal reflection by a selected speaker.

The Mass concludes with a song of farewell and a recessional song. There are usually a set of preselected funeral readings which are given in the Funeral Mass but if you have specific readings you would like read or if the deceased had favorite verses, inform the priest or the Bereavement Minister and let them know of any special scriptures you would like included.

The funeral readings offer a help and encouraging word to the attendees and those in mourning. It provides comfort from a religious perspective.

Catholic Funeral Readings

For additional resources on the Catholic Funeral Mass, visit The Funeral Program Site, home of beautiful funeral programs and templates. There are lovely religious funeral programs and a Catholic Funeral Program available for a loved one as well as other important information to include in the Funeral Mass.

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