INTRODUCTORY RITES
RITE OF RECEPTION:
If the Rite of reception of the body
takes place at the beginning
of the funeral mass,
the introductory Rites
are those given here
and the usual introductory Rites for Mass,
including the penitential rite, are omitted.
If the Rite of Reception of the body
has already taken place,
the Mass begins in the usual manner.
GREETING
(AT THE CHURCH DOOR)
Priest:
The grace of
Our Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God
and the communion
of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
All: And with your spirit.
Or
Priest :
The grace and peace
of God our Father,
who raised Jesus from the dead,
be always with you.
All: And with your spirit.
SPRINKLING WITH HOLY WATER
Priest:
In the waters of baptism,
(N...) died with Christ
and rose with him
to new life.
May he/she now share
with Him eternal glory.
All: Amen
PLACING OF THE PALL
(if it is the custom
in the local community,
the pall is then placed on the coffin,
either in silence or
as the priest says the following words)
Priest:
May Christ who claimed
(N...) in baptism
now enfold him/her
in his love and
bring him/her to eternal life.
All : Amen.
OPTIONAL
PLACING OF CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS
(The following texts may be used
during the Reception at the Church
when placing the Christian symbols
is desired.
A symbol of the Christian life,
such as the book of the Gospels,
a bible or a cross.
These may be carried in procession
and then placed on the coffin)
PLACING OF BIBLE
Priest:
In life, (N...) cherished
the Gospel of Christ.
May Christ now greet him/her
with these words of eternal life.
Come, blessed of my Father!
All : Amen.
PLACING OF CROSS
Priest:
In baptism (N...)
received the sign of the cross.
May he/she now share
in Christ's victory
over sin and death.
CROSS
(For a child who died before baptism)
Priest:
The cross we have
brought here today
was carried by the Lord Jesus
in the hour of his suffering.
We place it now
on [near] this coffin
as a sign of our hope for (N...)
(As the cross is placed
on [or near] the coffin:)
Priest:
Lord Jesus Christ,
you loved us unto death.
Let this cross be a sign
of your love for (N...)
and for the people
you have gathered here today.
ENTRANCE PROCESSION
(On reaching the altar,
the priest, with the assisting ministers,
makes the customary reverence,
kisses the altar,
and (if incense is used) incenses it.
Then he goes to the Chair.)
OUTSIDE EASTER TIME
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Eternal rest grant unto them,
O Lord
and let perpetual light
shine upon them
INVITATION TO PRAYER
(If there is no Mass the following text is used)
Priest:
My brothers and sisters,
we have come together
to renew our trust in Christ who,
by dying on the cross,
has freed us
from eternal death and,
by rising, has opened for us
the gates of heaven.
Let us pray for our brother/sister,
that he/she may share
in Christ's victory,
and let us pray for ourselves,
that the Lord may grant us
the gift of his loving consolation.
All: Amen.
COLLECT:
Priest:
Let us pray:
O God, almighty Father,
our faith professes that
your Son died and rose again;
mercifully grant that
through this mystery
your servant (N...)
who has fallen asleep in Christ,
may rejoice to rise again
through him.
Who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
All : Amen.
OR
Priest:
Let us pray, O God,
whose nature is always
to forgive and to show mercy,
we humbly implore you
for your servant (N...)
whom you have called (this day)
to journey to you, and,
since he/ she hoped
and believed in you,
grant that he/she may be led
to our true homeland to
delight in its everlasting joys.
Through our Lord Jesus
Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
DURING EASTER TIME
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Just as Jesus died and rose again,
so, through Jesus,
God will bring with him
those who have fallen asleep;
and as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ
will all be brought to life, alleluia.
COLLECT
Listen kindly to our prayers, O Lord:
as our faith in your Son,
raised from the dead, is deepened,
may our hope of resurrection
for your departed servant (N...)
also find new strength.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, who lives
and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
OR
Priest:
O God,
who through the ending
of present things
open up the beginning
of things to come.
Grant, we pray, that the soul
of your servant (N...)
may be led by you
to attain the inheritance
of eternal redemption.
All : Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
READING SET B
FIRST READING B
A reading from
the book of Wisdom (Wis 4:7-15)
Untarnished life, this is ripe old age.
The virtuous man,
though he die before his time,
will find rest.
Length of days
is not what makes age honourable,
nor number of years
the true measure of life;
understanding,
this is man's grey hairs,
untarnished life, this is ripe old age.
He has sought to please God,
so God has loved him;
as he was living among sinners,
he has been taken up.
He has been carried off
so that evil may not
warp his understanding
or treachery seduce his soul;
for the fascination of evil
throws good things into the shade,
and the whirlwind of desire
corrupts a simple heart.
Coming to perfection
in so short a while,
he achieved long life;
his soul being
pleasing to the Lord,
he has taken him quickly
from the wickedness around him.
Yet people look on,
uncomprehending;
it does not enter their heads
that grace and mercy
await the chosen of the Lord,
and protection, his holy ones.
The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Response:
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Response:
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green
are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me,
to revive my drooping spirit.
Response:
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me
along the right path;
he is true to his name.
If I should walk
in the valley of darkness
no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook
and your staff;
with these you give me comfort.
Response:
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
You have prepared
a banquet for me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have
anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing.
Response:
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Surely goodness and kindness
shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord's own house
shall I dwell for ever and ever.
Response:
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
SECOND READING B
A reading from the
first letter of St Paul
to the Corinthians (Cor 15:51-57)
Death is swallowed up in victory.
I will tell you something
that has been secret:
that we are not all going to die,
but we shall all be changed.
This will be instantaneous,
in the twinkling of an eye,
when the last trumpet sounds.
It will sound, and the dead
will be raised, imperishable,
and we shall be changed as well,
because our present
perishable nature
must put on imperishability
and this mortal nature
must put on immortality.
When this perishable nature
has put on imperishability,
and when this mortal nature
has put on immortality,
then the words of Scripture
will come true:
Death is swallowed up in victory.
Death where is your victory?
Death where is your sting?
Now the sting of sin is death,
and sin gets its power from the Law.
So let us thank God
for giving us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION B
OUTSIDE LENT SEASON
Alleluia! Alleluia!
I am the resurrection
and the life,
says the Lord.
Whoever believes in me
shall never die.
All: Alleluia!
DURING LENT SEASON
Praise and honour to you,
Lord Jesus!
I am the resurrection
and the life,
says the Lord.
Whoever believes in me
shall never die.
All: Praise and honour to you,
Lord Jesus!
GOSPEL B
A reading from the Holy Gospel
according to John
(Jn 11:17-27)
I am the resurrection and the life.
On arriving at Bethany,
Jesus found that Lazarus
had been in the tomb
for four days already.
Bethany is only about
two miles from Jerusalem,
and many Jews had come
to Martha and Mary
to sympathise with them
over their brother.
When Martha heard that
Jesus had come
she went to meet him.
Mary remained sitting in the house.
Martha said to Jesus,
"If you had been here,
my brother would not have died,
but I know that, even now,
whatever you ask of God,
he will grant you."
"Your brother,"
said Jesus to her,
"will rise again."
Martha said,
"I know he will rise again
at the resurrection on the last day."
Jesus said:
"I am the resurrection and the life.
If anyone believes in me,
even though he dies he will live,
and whoever lives
and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?"
"Yes, Lord," she said,
"I believe that
you are the Christ,
the Son of God,
the one who was
to come into this world."
The Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
OPTION B
Priest:
With confidence,
let us pray to God
the Father Almighty,
who raised from the dead
his only Son, Jesus Christ:
For (N...) our departed
brother/sister,
that he/she may live forever
in his/her Father's house.
Together we pray.
Response:
Lord, remember your love for us.
For all of us gathered here,
that our faith may be stronger
than our grief,
and that our regrets
may not be without hope.
Response:
Lord, remember your love for us.
For all who suffer,
that they may never feel
God has abandoned them.
Response:
Lord, remember your love for us.
For all people,
that their lives on earth
may be ever more
fraternal and just.
Response:
Lord, remember your love for us.
For the Church,
that she may faithfully
reveal to the world
Christ who is Lord
of the living and the dead.
Response:
Lord, remember your love for us.
Priest:
God, who loves all people
and desires that
none may be lost,
grant that the prayers
of your Church may obtain
the salvation of all,
living and dead.
Through Christ, our Lord.
All: Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
(If there is no singing, the following may be followed.)
Priest:
Blessed are you,
Lord God of all creation,
for through your goodness
we have received the bread
we offer you: fruit of the earth
and work of human hands,
it will become for us
the bread of life.
All: Blessed be God for ever.
Priest:
Blessed are you,
Lord God of all creation,
for through your goodness
we have received the wine
we offer you: fruit of the vine
and work of human hands,
it will become our spiritual drink.
All: Blessed be God for ever.
INVITATION TO PRAYER
Priest:
Pray, brethren
(brothers and sisters),
that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
All:
May the Lord
accept the sacrifice
at your hands,
for the praise and glory of his name,
for our good, and the good
of all his holy Church.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
(OUTSIDE OF EASTER TIME)
Priest:
As we humbly present to you
these sacrificial offerings, O Lord,
for the salvation
of your servant (N...)
we beseech your mercy,
that he/she, who did not
doubt your Son
to be a loving Saviour,
may find in him a merciful Judge.
Who lives and reigns
for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
(DURING THE EASTER SEASON)
Priest:
Look favourably on our offerings,
O Lord, so that your
departed servant (N...)
may be taken up into glory
with your Son,
in whose great mystery of love
we are all united.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
PREFACE DIALOGUE
Priest:
The Lord be with you.
All:
And with your spirit.
Priest:
Lift up your hearts.
All:
We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest:
Let us give thanks
to the Lord our God.
All:
It is right and just.
PREFACE I FOR THE DEAD
The hope of resurrection in Christ
Priest:
It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere
to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.
In him the hope of
blessed resurrection has dawned,
that those saddened
by the certainty of dying
might be consoled
by the promise of
immortality to come.
Indeed for your faithful, Lord,
life is changed not ended, and,
when this earthly dwelling
turns to dust,
an eternal dwelling
is made ready for them in heaven.
And so,
with Angels and Archangels,
with Thrones and Dominions,
and with all the hosts
and Powers of heaven,
we sing the hymn of your glory,
as without end we acclaim:
SANCTUS
All:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,
God of hosts.
Heaven and earth
are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he
who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
PREFACE II FOR THE DEAD
Christ died so that we might live
Priest:
It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere
to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father,
almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.
For as one alone
he accepted death,
so that we might all
escape from dying;
as one man he chose to die,
so that in your sight
we all might live for ever.
And so, in company
with the choirs of Angels,
We praise you,
and with joy we proclaim:
SANCTUS
All:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,
God of hosts.
Heaven and earth
are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he
who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II
Priest:
You are indeed Holy, O Lord,
the fount of all holiness.
Make holy, therefore,
these gifts, we pray,
by sending down your Spirit
upon them like the dewfall,
so that they may become for us
the Body and (+) Blood
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the time he was betrayed
and entered willingly
into his Passion,
he took bread and,
giving thanks, broke it,
and gave it to his disciples, saying:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU,
AND EAT OF IT,
FOR THIS IS MY BODY,
WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.
In a similar way,
when supper was ended,
he took the chalice and,
once more giving thanks,
he gave it to his disciples, saying:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU,
AND DRINK FROM IT,
FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE
OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW
AND ETERNAL COVENANT,
WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT
FOR YOU AND FOR MANY
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.
Priest:
The mystery of faith:
All:
We proclaim your death,
O Lord,
and profess your resurrection,
until you come again.
OR
When we eat this bread
and drink this cup,
we proclaim your Death O Lord,
until you come again.
Priest:
Therefore, as we celebrate
the memorial of his Death
and Resurrection,
we offer you, Lord,
the Bread of life
and the Chalice of salvation,
giving thanks
that you have held us worthy
to be in your presence
and minister to you.
Humbly we pray that,
partaking of the Body
and Blood of Christ,
we may be gathered into one
by the Holy Spirit.
Remember, Lord, your Church,
spread throughout the world,
and bring her
to the fullness of charity,
together with (N...) our Pope
and (N...) our Bishop
and all the clergy.
Remember your servant (N...),
whom you have called (today)
from this world to yourself.
Grant that he/she
who was united with your Son
in a death like his,
may also be one with him
in his Resurrection.
Remember also
our brothers and sisters
who have fallen asleep
in the hope of the resurrection,
and all who have died
in your mercy:
welcome them
into the light of your face.
Have mercy on us all, we pray,
that with the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of God,
with blessed Joseph, her Spouse
with the blessed Apostles,
and all the Saints
who have pleased you
throughout the ages,
we may merit to be
co-heirs to eternal life,
and may praise and glorify you
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
DOXOLOGY
Priest:
Through him,
and with him,
and in him,
O God, almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours,
for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
(Go to Communion Rite)
OR
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER III
Priest:
You are indeed Holy, O Lord,
and all you have created
rightly gives you praise,
for through your Son
our Lord Jesus Christ,
by the power and working
of the Holy Spirit,
you give life to all things
and make them holy,
and you never cease
to gather a people to yourself,
so that from the rising of the sun
to its setting a pure sacrifice
may be offered to your name.
Therefore, O Lord,
we humbly implore you:
by the same Spirit
graciously make holy these gifts
we have brought to you
for consecration,
that they may become
the Body and (+) Blood
of your Son Our Lord Jesus Christ,
at whose command
we celebrate these mysteries.
For on the night he was betrayed
he himself took bread, and,
giving you thanks,
he said the blessing,
broke the bread
and gave it to his disciples,
saying:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU,
AND EAT OF IT,
FOR THIS IS MY BODY,
WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.
In a similar way,
when supper was ended,
he took the chalice and,
once more giving thanks,
he gave it to his disciples, saying:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU,
AND DRINK FROM IT,
FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE
OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW
AND ETERNAL COVENANT,
WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT
FOR YOU AND FOR MANY
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.
Priest:
The mystery of faith:
All:
We proclaim your death,
O Lord,
and profess your resurrection,
until you come again.
OR
When we eat this bread
and drink this cup,
we proclaim your Death O Lord,
until you come again.
Priest:
Therefore, O Lord,
as we celebrate the memorial
of the saving Passion of your Son,
his wondrous Resurrection
and Ascension into heaven,
and as we look forward
to his second coming,
we offer you in thanksgiving
this holy and living sacrifice.
Look, we pray,
upon the oblation of your Church and,
recognising the sacrificial Victim
by whose death you willed
to reconcile us to yourself,
grant that we, who are nourished
by the Body and Blood of your Son
and filled with his Holy Spirit,
may become one body,
one spirit in Christ.
May he make us
an eternal offering to you,
so that we may obtain
an inheritance with your elect,
especially with the most
Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of God,
with blessed Joseph, her Spouse
with your blessed Apostles
and glorious Martyrs
(with Saint N... :
the Saint of the day or Patron Saint)
and with all the Saints,
on whose constant intercession
in your presence
we rely for unfailing help.
May this Sacrifice
of our reconciliation,
we pray, O Lord,
advance the peace and salvation
of all the world.
Be pleased to confirm
in faith and charity
your pilgrim Church on earth,
with your servant (N...) our Pope
and (N...) our Bishop,
the Order of Bishops,
all the clergy,
and the entire people
you have gained for your own.
Listen graciously
to the prayers of this family,
whom you have
summoned before you:
in your compassion,
O merciful Father,
gather to yourself all your children
scattered throughout the world.
Remember your servant (N...)
whom you have called (today)
from this world to yourself.
Grant that he/she
who was united with your Son
in a death like his,
may also be one with him
in his Resurrection,
when from the earth
he will raise up in the flesh
those who have died,
and transform our lowly body
after the pattern
of his own glorious body.
To our departed
brothers and sisters, too,
and to all who were pleasing to you
at their passing from this life,
give kind admittance
to your kingdom.
There we hope to enjoy forever
the fullness of your glory
when you will wipe away every tear
from our eyes.
For seeing you, our God,
as you are, we shall be like you
for all ages and
praise you without end,
through Christ our Lord,
through whom you bestow
on the world all that is good.
DOXOLOGY
Priest:
Through him,
and with him,
and in him,
O God, almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours,
for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
(Go to Communion Rite)
COMMUNION RITE
Priest:
At the Saviour's command
and formed by divine teaching,
we dare to say:
All:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Priest:
Deliver us, Lord, we pray,
from every evil,
graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of your mercy,
we may always be free from sin
and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Saviour,
Jesus Christ.
All:
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever.
Priest:
Lord Jesus Christ,
who said to your Apostles:
Peace I leave you,
my peace I give you;
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your Church,
and graciously grant her peace
and unity in accordance
with your will.
Who live and reign
for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Priest:
The peace of the Lord
be with you always.
All: And with your spirit.
Priest:
Let us offer each other
the sign of peace.
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
AGNUS DEI
All:
Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,
grant us peace.
COMMUNION
Priest:
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away
the sins of the world.
Blessed are those
called to the supper of the Lamb.
All:
Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter
under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
(OUTSIDE OF EASTER TIME)
Priest:
Let us pray.
Lord God, whose Son left us,
in the Sacrament of his Body,
food for the journey,
mercifully grant that,
strengthened by it,
our brother/sister (N...)
may come to the
eternal table of Christ.
Who lives and reigns
for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
(DURING THE EASTER SEASON)
Priest:
Let us pray.
Grant, we pray, O Lord,
that your servant (N...)
for whom we have celebrated
this paschal Sacrament,
may pass over
to a dwelling place
of light and peace.
Through Christ Our Lord.
All: Amen.
FINAL COMMENDATION
INVITATION TO PRAYER
Priest:
Before parting, let us together
bid our last farewell
to our brother/sister (N...).
With respect and affection,
we entrust him/her to God's Mercy,
with the hope of
meeting again one day,
when the love of Christ,
who triumphed over evil,
will triumph over death itself.
We pause a while in silence
to pray and recall
what (N...) has been for us,
what we had in common
and experienced together,
and what he/she is now for God.
OR
Priest:
Our brother/sister has fallen asleep
in the peace of Christ.
Let us entrust him/her
to the love of God our Father,
in faith and the hope of eternal life.
Let us accompany him/her
with our prayer:
in baptism he/she
became a child of God;
in the Eucharist he/she
found the food of life;
may he/she be welcome now
at God's table in heaven
and may he/she receive now,
together with all the saints,
the promised inheritance.
Let us also pray [the Lord]
for ourselves;
may we, one day,
when our time of
tears and sorrow is over,
join with our brother/sister
to meet Christ, who is our life,
when he comes in glory.
With this hope in our hearts,
we pause for a quiet moment
of reflection and prayer.
SILENCE. All pray in silence.
SIGNS OF FAREWELL
The coffin may now be sprinkled
with holy water and incensed.
Before sprinkling
Priest:
We hope and we believe
that we will come back to life.
As a sign of our faith,
I bless the mortal remains
of our brother/sister (N...)
in the name of the Father
and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit.
Before incensing
Priest:
As a sign of respect
for our brother/sister (N...),
may this incense surround
our brother's/sister's body
and go up to God with our prayer.
The following is sung or said while the priest incenses the coffin.
SONG OF FAREWELL
I know that my Redeemer lives,
And on that final day of days,
His voice shall bid me rise again:
Unending joy, unceasing praise!
This hope I cherish in my heart:
To stand on earth,
my flesh restored,
And, not a stranger but a friend,
Behold my Saviour and my Lord.
OR
I know that my Redeemer lives:
on the last day I shall rise again.
Response:
And in my flesh I shall see God.
I shall see him myself
face to face;
and my own eyes
shall behold my Saviour.
Response:
And in my flesh I shall see God.
Within my heart this hope I cherish:
that in my flesh I shall see God.
Response:
And in my flesh I shall see God.
When singing is not possible, the following could be said:
Father,
infinitely good and merciful,
we entrust to you (N...),
who is now standing at the door
[crossing the threshold]
of your house.
Take with you, Lord,
the one we love.
Response:
Take with you, Lord, the one we love.
When the darkness of death
takes him/her away
from our sight,
may your perpetual light
shine upon him/her.
Response:
Take with you, Lord, the one we love.
He/She is no more with us;
let him/her be with you, Lord,
for we know
your forgiving and
tender mercy [love].
Response:
Take with you, Lord, the one we love.
He/She is your child
from the day
the water of Baptism
gave him/her your life.
Response:
Take with you, Lord, the one we love.
Through the love of your Son,
he/she already belongs to you.
May he/she live in your presence
and share your glory for ever.
Response:
Take with you, Lord, the one we love.
(A short pause)
Brother/Sister (N...) ,
we bid you "Adieu" (farewell)
until the blessed day
when we meet again.
OR
Lord, we turn to you,
while thinking of our brother/sister.
Together, we pray:
Response:
May he/she live with you, Lord.
That he/she may know for ever
the joy and peace
of your presence.
Response:
May he/she live with you, Lord.
That he/she may now at last
enjoy for ever
the vision of your glory.
Response:
May he/she live with you, Lord.
That Christ welcome him/her
with all those
who have gone before us.
Response:
May he/she live with you, Lord.
That he/she may now
share the happiness
of all those who died
in your friendship.
Response:
May he/she live with you, Lord.
And may his/her remembrance
bring us closer to you.
Response:
May he/she live with you, Lord.
PRAYER OF COMMENDATION
Priest:
Into your hands, Father of mercies,
we commend
our brother/sister (N...)
in the sure and certain hope that,
together with all
who have died in Christ,
he/she will rise with him
on the last day.
We give you thanks
for the blessings
which you bestowed
upon (N...) in this life:
they are signs to us
of your goodness
and of our fellowship
with the saints in Christ.
Merciful Lord, turn toward us
and listen to our prayers:
open the gates of paradise
to your servant
and help us who remain
to comfort one another
with assurances of faith,
until we all meet in Christ
and are with you
and with our brother/sister for ever.
All: Amen.
OR
Priest:
Almighty and merciful Father,
we commend to you
our brother/sister (N...)
Your love has accompanied
him/her throughout
his/her life.
Deliver him her now
from every evil.
He/She has left this passing world;
take him/her to yourself
where there is no more
tear or sorrow
but joy and peace,
with your Son and the Holy Spirit,
forever and ever.
All: Amen.
OR
Priest:
Lord Jesus, look with love
upon those who sorrow and grieve
and receive their prayer
for the one they mourn.
You alone are holy,
you alone are infinitely merciful:
forgive our brother/sister
all his/her sins.
You delivered yourself to death
that all may be saved
and pass from death to life.
Do not allow (N...) to be
separated from you
but since your love
is stronger than death,
give him/her to live in your light,
your happiness and peace,
forever and ever.
All: Amen.
PROCESSION TO THE PLACE OF COMMITTAL
Priest:
In peace let us take
our brother/sister
to his/her place of rest.
All:
May saints and angels lead you on,
escorting you
where Christ has gone.
Now he has called you, come to him
who sits above the seraphim.
Come to the peace of Abraham
and to the supper of the Lamb:
Come to the glory of the blessed,
and to perpetual light and rest.
OR
All:
May flights of angels lead you
on your way to paradise
and heaven's eternal day;
may martyrs greet you
after death's dark night,
and bid you enter into Sion's light;
may choirs of angels
sing you to your rest
with once poor Lazarus
now for ever blest.
OR
All:
May choirs of angels
escort you into paradise:
and at your arrival
may the martyrs receive
and welcome you;
may they bring you home
into the holy city Jerusalem.
May the holy angels
with joy welcome you,
and with Lazarus,
who lived in poverty,
may you have everlasting rest.
