What's a Roman Catholic funeral like?

[TheArmadillo]

Am going to one tomorrow.

Have never been to an RC funeral before.

Also they said the casket is being taken to hte church tonight - is this usual and why does it happen?

CAn anyone tell me? (sorry I like to be prepared in advance).

TIA

I went to an RC funeral last year, the only difference being that the priest rings little bells, I am not sure of the significance. The casket did not arrive in advance at the funeral that I went to.

Nothing to it. The coffin usually stays with the undertaker but perhaps they are keeping it in the church overnight, it's not usual but it's nothing out of the ordinary either.

The coffin is carried up the centre aisle by pall-bearers and is followed by family and friends. The priest then conducts a short service which includes blessing the coffin and lots of insence. He also says a few words about the deceased. The coffin is then taken to the cars followed by the family who then drive in a cortage to the burial site where the priest does another short service, after which people throw a bit of dirt onto the coffin before they leave.

Thanks for that.

I have been to several CofE funerals but not a RC one. Dp said they were probably similar but didn't actually know.

long..last one I went to was over 90 minutes!

Were they a nun or summat?

If it is a funeral Mass, it is like a full CoE Communion service. The bells are rung for consecration, when the priest raises the Host, again when he raises the chalice, and again when the priest drinks the wine. Presumably you know that if you're not Catholic you don't get to take Communion.

Some Catholic cultures go in for open caskets (the Irish are big on this, but others may be too) so be warned.

The open casket thing was something I was worried about. BUt he wasn't Irish and its not htat usual in this country.

Thanks for all the responses

Long, be prepared, it is usual for the casket to go in over night, this happened to both my grandparents and we had a private family mass the night before because the funeral was huge, be prepared for inscence(sp)and I presuem it will be a funeral mass so, sermons, readings gospel, etc

it was a full mass, lots of hymns and 3 people got up to speak

It is going to be a big public funeral. So that might be reason casket is going overnight (I'm guessing they'd like a more private service as well).

He was a very well thought of man.

Thanks for all these

they'd probably have a full mass,I think, if they are going for the overnight vigil...my granny had a Latin mass at her funeral,which was interesting.

Expect a long service then.

You can go up for Communion, if you cross your hands over your breast, the priest will know you are not a catholic and he will give you a blessing.

There are lots of prayers for the dead and rituals with oil and insence, all very nice really. Well, not in that sense, but ykwim!

I am a very lapsed Catholic but absolutely love all the ritual, incense,bells etc...

Sounds like it's going to be a beautiful service which will be nice (YKWIM).

I went to one recently and was worried, only difference was it was longer and they rang bells and had insence and water.

Insence was sort of ironic tho because the person who died had chronic asthma, a lot of people from her asthma group came and when the insence filled the church about 10 people had to leave coughing and spluttring!

Have to say that the removal of the coffin the night before is totally normal ime (large Irish Catholic family!). It may be worth making an enquiry as to whether you are wanted for that too, as our family view that that bit is actually the very important. Typically the coffin is sealed as it leaves the house/undertakers to go to the church.

Lots of incense and holy water at the funeral mass. A lot of the main Catholic funeral readings are taken from the Apochrypha for some reason, so they may not be familiar, though some are very beautiful.

If you're not a Catholic then please don't take communion, but do feel free to go up for a blessing.

It is usually a very beautiful ceremony.

I find them far too long winded personally (I was a catholic, now lapsed!) and the incense makes me sneeze!
Make sure you have a good wee before you sit down!

Also lapsed catholic. Catholics arent supposed to be cremated so it may well be an internment. Very hard in bad weather, walking away leaving your loved one lying in a hole in the ground in the rain.
Comparing my family's catholic funerals with DPs lot having 15 min service in a cremation chapel, the longer ceremony and all the 'trimmings' does seem to give them a better and more dignified send off, somehow. or maybe its just what i'm used to.

Thanks for all these.

We have been told about the details for the service and the wake after, but not the burial (so it may be they only want family there).

Sounds like a very beautiful and diginified service.

hello Armadillo - hope the funeral went well...what did you think, out of interest ?

It was lovely - church was packed.

Modern church, very beautiful including a lovely mosaic.

Was full Mass, lasted about 1 1/2 including the burial.

I cried through the eulogy, as I think did everyone else.

Just got back and waiting for friend to call so we can talk about him.

Am very but it was a lovely service (no incense)

long!!!

no incense

Glad it went ok and sorry you're

It was a very 'modern' and quite 'radical' (according to one of our tutors) catholic church.