If
this is your first time attending a Catholic funeral program, you will be
surprised by how beautiful it is. Most Catholics will treat this as a solemn
event that celebrates the deceased's life. It is filled with rich rituals and
customs that have been cultivated for centuries. The funeral service highlights
the belief of the Christian on eternal life and that the body of the deceased
during the judgment day will be resurrected. They treat this as an opportunity
to return the gift of life to the creator.
The Guide on Catholic
Funeral Program
This
guide will help you understand the funeral rites of the Catholic church. It
will also help you create the decision that follows the church's teachings. It
can help you prepare some introductory notes if you need to conduct a Catholic funeral program.
The Guiding Principle
While
some people will normally treat death as the end of everything, most Christians
believe it is just the start of a new journey. According to the church's
teachings, God will welcome them to eternal life. With the death of Jesus
Christ, our Saviour, our sins have been absolved. The deceased's family should
communicate directly with the funeral home and the parish church during the
Catholic funeral program. Make sure to appoint someone in the family to
establish this level of communication.
Cremation or Burial
Another
important decision you need to make on the Catholic
funeral program is whether to cremate or bury the remains of your loved
ones. The Catholic Church has revised its view on cremation, and they are
currently allowing it as long as this will not contradict the belief towards
eternal life. However, the church still recommends that the body be buried
rather than cremated. Some families prefer cremation since the cost is more
reasonable.
Despite
your chosen procedure, you will still need a burial place during the Catholic funeral program. The church
may recommend you bury it in the Catholic cemetery, but you are still free to
choose other types of cemeteries. The cremains (cremation remains) can also be
buried; the catholic tradition states that they should not be spread on the
sea, land, or left on our home. You will always have to dispose of the body in
a dignified manner. You can place the cremains on the columbarium, equivalent
to a mausoleum.
The Mass
During
the early part of the Catholic funeral program,
you should already decide if you want a mass or not. Funeral masses are
required to celebrate with the remains of the deceased. This should be a
principal celebration of the funeral service. However, there are also instances
that the deceased's family will not add mass to the service, especially if the
deceased one has been separated from the teaching of the Church for a very long
time.
After
the Catholic funeral program, the departed
loved ones are expected to express their love through prayers. It is also the catholic
tradition to celebrate the event with a mass after a month (in some cases 40
days) of their loved one's death.
Common Catholic Funeral
Program on Procession
The
early part of the Bible will not say much about how our ancestors disposed of their
dead loved ones or about the funeral
procession. Burying their loved ones was only stated on the death of
Sarah. In the New Testaments, parts of the scriptures mentioned customs on
funerals, particularly during the times of Jesus Christ. The teachings of the Bible
have led to the Christians' belief in the afterlife. They spent most of their
lives here on earth to achieve eternal life and peace in Heaven. The writings
on the Bible have also inspired the customs of the Catholic Funeral Program.
Things You Probably Don't
Know About Catholic Funeral
Processions
Here
are some interesting facts about the Christian practice of funeral processions. You will be surprised how they pay a great
deal of attention to this event.
Driving
The
driver during the Catholic Funeral Program will be directed to drive
slowly. They will be moving at an average speed of 30-40mph. Those joining the
procession will need to stay close to the car. You should not give room for the
other vehicles that do not belong in the procession to cut you in. The local
traffic law will give the procession the right-of-way depending on your
location. The motorists that do not belong in the convoy are expected to yield
until such time that the funerals have successfully passed. You should always
stay in line unless you have an emergency.
Choice of Vehicle
Christians
have three options when choosing the appropriate vehicle for the Catholic
Funeral Program. They may use a funeral service car, limousine, or funeral
coach. The funeral coach is the traditional method of transporting the remains
to their final resting ground. Those who choose this option should not expect
enough room except for the casket, the funeral director, and the driver.
Limousine is an elegant and commonly-used vehicle during the procession.
Service vehicles can be vans or sedans; it is the more cost-efficient option.
Things to Do
As
mentioned above, the funeral procession should always be given the right of way.
Apart from that, if you are driving and you met a funeral procession, every
Christian is expected to respect the funeral. Most of the time, they will let
the procession pass first before proceeding to their destined location. They
understand that this Catholic Funeral Program should continue without
any interruption. Christians are expected to honor this tradition regardless of
the traffic light. They will wait for the final two vehicles carrying the
funeral flags before the normal traffic situation will resume.
After
the end of the service, the pallbearers will be expected to carry the casket
and place it at the hearse. The funeral attendant will then direct the
attendants to get into their vehicle and follow the funeral procession. If there are too many attendants at the
funeral, the director will place flags on every third car with bright colors.
5 Tips for Catholic Funeral Program Etiquette
Attending a
funeral service can be stressful and overwhelming since emotions are high
during this situation. It would be best to behave and respect the family and
the deceased properly. Here are some of
the tips you should consider when attending a Catholic Funeral Program.
Make Sure That You Will Arrive on Time
Arriving on time is a
responsibility that you have to make when respecting the family and their deceased loved one. You need to
consider different issues that can arise, such as road construction, heavy traffic,
and other reasons that can cause delays. You should also consider the
accessibility of the parking space. You should be there 10 minutes before the Catholic Funeral Program. In situations where you can't avoid
being late, make sure to arrive quietly. Avoid creating a ruckus that may
disrespect the family and the other guests.
Turn off Your Phone
Even if it is in its
lowest volume, a ringing phone can disrupt the Catholic Funeral Program
and be considered a very disrespectful behavior. It simply means that you think
your time is more important than the other guests. You should never answer your
phone while there is an ongoing ceremony. Answering your telephone and exiting
while a funeral ceremony is being held is very disrespectful.
Dress Properly
Traditionally, you should
wear something black when going to a Catholic Funeral Program. However, if the situation forbids you
from wearing black, make sure to find something with a subdued color and
conservative clothes. Avoid wearing jeans or attire that you will use in
running an errand. Some of the colors that you should avoid include orange,
yellow, red, and anything with loud and bright colors. Respecting the family also means that you need to wear something
neat such as the attire you will use in a corporate interview.
Respect their religious and Cultural Practices
If you receive an invite
from someone with a different religious or cultural belief and you are not
accustomed to their practice, make sure to do quick research about what you
should expect. It will allow you to be more relaxed and help you respect the family of the deceased.
Prepare Your Children
If you are planning to
bring your children to the Catholic Funeral Program; you need to make them
understand the importance of the ceremony. Before the proper ritual, teach them
how to sit quietly and whisper to make sure that you respect the family and the
deceased. On the off chance that they are too young, hire the service of a babysitter
that will take care of them to avoid causing disruption.
These are some of
the tips that will help you navigate the Catholic Funeral Program. Stay tuned for our future
article on funerals. It will serve as your guide if you need some assistance or
concerns about anything related to the funeral service.
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