Ah, Would That These Words of Mine Were Written Down, Inscribed on Some Monument

The Parish of Portlaoise,

The Heath & Ratheniska

Funeral Liturgy

Readings and Prayers

Prayers in the Home / Mortuary

A member of the Funeral Ministry team will lead the prayers in the Mortuary or in the home at the removal to the Church. He/she will generally begin the prayers 45 minutes before the remains are due to be removed.

Reception of the Remains at the Church

If the funeral takes place to the Church on the eve of the Requiem Mass there will be a Reception ceremony, consisting of Readings from Scripture and prayers for the deceased and their family.

Funeral Mass

The Funeral Mass is the central liturgical celebration for the deceased. Relatives and friends are welcome to actively participate in the celebration of the Mass. Such active involvement in the Mass includes the reading of Scripture, leading the prayers of the faithful and the presentation of the gifts. However, grieving relatives should not feel obliged to engage in public performance on such a sad occasion. If they feel unable to fulfil these roles they will be covered otherwise. The celebrant of the Mass will liaise with the family in relation to the celebration.

Word of God

Readings

Family members are encouraged to choose appropriate Scripture readings for the

FuneralMass.

There may be 1 or 2 readings followed by a Gospel reading. The Priests reads the Gospel reading. If you have a preference for a particular Gospel please mention it to the celebrant, otherwise he will choose the Gospel. If there are two readings it is usual that there will be two readers. The responsorial psalm may be read or sung; it is read or sung between the first and second reading. The second reading is followed by the Gospel Acclamation and if not sung is read by the second reader.

The Order of the Readings:

First Reading

Usually chosen from the Old Testament readings. (Readings numbered 1 – 10 in this book)

Responsorial Psalm

The psalm may be sung. If not the First Reader reads it.

Second Reading

Usually taken from the New Testament readings. (Readings numbered 11 – 29 in this book)

Gospel Acclamation (Alleluia - except during Lent)

The ‘Alleluia’ may be sung. If not the Second Reader reads it.

The Gospel

Taken from the Gospel readings. The priest reads the Gospel but the family are welcome to choose the particular gospel. If not otherwise indicated, the priest will choose one of the gospels.

Prayers of the Faithful

The sample prayers at the end of this book can help you in preparing appropriate prayers of the faithful. You may use them as they are or adapt them to your own particular circumstances and preferences. You may have as many prayers of the faithful as you wish; usually there are 4, 5 or 6 prayers of the faithful at the Requiem Mass.

Offertory Procession

The Prayers of the Faithful are followed by the Offertory Procession. Members of the family may bring the bread and wine to the Altar. Usually there are 2 or 4 people involved in the Offertory Procession. Items to symbolise the life of the deceased are more appropriately brought to a place near the coffin at the beginning of Mass.

Members of the family speaking at the end of the Mass.

If it is the family’s wish, a member of the family or friend of the deceased, nominated by the family, may address the congregation after the final prayer of the Mass. The celebrant should be notified of the fact. The address should be carefully prepared and in its length, tone and delivery should be respectful of the deceased, the bereaved and the Liturgical setting in which it is delivered. It is strongly recommended that it should be written out and no longer than 3 to 4 minutes. An inappropriate or unprepared address can lead to embarrassment for the speaker and the bereaved family and do a disservice to the deceased and to the funeral liturgy.

Alternatively, an address may be delivered at the graveside after the burial.

Music

If the Requiem Mass is celebrated at our 10am weekday Mass in the ParishChurch the choir usually associated with this Mass is happy to sing at the Mass. If you wish to engage your own organist/musician/singer you are welcome to do so. On Sundays the choir normally associated with that Mass will sing at the Mass.

Appropriate music and song associated with the Liturgy work best in the setting of the Church and the Mass. Popular songs are often obviously out of place and are best left to other occasions during the funeral rite – they may be played before leaving the home or mortuary, at the graveside or at a reception that may follow the burial.

Webcam

If you have family/relatives/friends who cannot make the funeral reception or Requiem Mass they may appreciate joining the ceremonies via our live stream on the Internet. This can be accessed by visiting the parish website – – and from there clicking on the webcam logo. A webcam recording of the Requiem can be saved on disk but prior notice needs to be given to the Parish Centre to make the necessary arrangements.

Photograph of the deceased

If the family wish they may avail of the screens in the ParishChurch to have a photograph of the deceased displayed. Please leave a photograph into the Parish Centre to be scanned or if you have a digital photograph email to . Photograph will also be used in announcing the Death in the Link-up and on our website. There is a facility on the website for the public to leave also a note.

Portlaoise Parish Centre: 057 8621142

Bereavement Support Group

The parish has a Bereavement Support Group offering help in a time of grief. To make an appointment to speak with a member of the Bereavement Support Group, contact the following number: 087 9878300.

Old Testament Readings

First Reading

1.

A reading from the book of Job (19:23-27)

Job said:

‘Ah, would that these words of mine were written down, inscribed on some monument with iron chisel and engraving tool, cut into the rock for ever.

This I know: that my Avenger lives, and he, the Last, will take his stand on earth. After my awaking, he will set me close to him, and from my flesh I shall look on God. He whom I shall see will take my part: these eyes will gaze on him and find him not aloof.’

The word of the Lord.

2.

A reading from the book of Wisdom (3:1-9)

The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, no torment shall ever touch them. In the eyes of the unwise, they did appear to die, their going looked like a disaster, their leaving us, like annihilation; but they are in peace. If they experienced punishment as men see it, their hope was rich with immortality; slight was their affliction, great will their blessings be. God has put them to the test and proved them worthy to be with him; he has tested them like gold in a furnace, and accepted them as a holocaust.

When the time comes for his visitation they will shine out; as sparks run through the stubble, so will they.

They shall judge nations, rule over peoples, and the Lord will be their king for ever. They who trust in him will understand the truth, those who are faithful will live with him in love; for grace and mercy await those he has chosen.

The word of the Lord.

Shorter Form of Reading number 2

A reading from the book of Wisdom (3:1-6.9)

The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, no torment shall ever touch them. In theeyes of the unwise, they did appear to die, their going looked like a disaster, their leaving us,like annihilation; but they are in peace.

If they experienced punishment as men see it, their hope was rich with immortality;slight was their affliction, great will their blessing be. God has put them to the testand proved them worthy to be with him; he has tested them like gold in a furnace, andaccepted them as a holocaust.

They who trust in him will understand the truth, those who are faithful will live with him inlove; for grace and mercy await those he has chosen.

The word of the Lord.

3.

A reading from the book of Wisdom (4:7-15)

The virtuous man, though he die before his time, will find rest.

Length of days is not what makes age honorable, 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.

4.

A reading from the prophet Isaiah (12:2-6)

Truly, God is my salvation, I trust, I shall not fear, for the Lord is my strength, my song, he became my Saviour. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Give thanks to the Lord, give praise to his name! Make his mighty deeds known to the peoples! Declare the greatness of his name! Sing a psalm to the Lord, for he has done glorious deeds, make them known to all the earth! People of Zion, sing and shout for joy for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

The word of the Lord.

5.

A reading from the prophet Isaiah(25:6-9)

On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food. Onthis mountain he will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples, and the shroudenwrapping all nations, he will destroy Death for ever.

The Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek; he will take away his people’s shameeverywhere on earth, for the Lord has said so.

That day, it will be said: See, this is our God in whom we hoped for salvation;the Lord is the one in whom we hoped. We exult and we rejoice that he has saved us.

The word of the Lord.

6.

A reading from the prophet Isaiah (49:13-16)

Shout for joy, you heavens; exult, you earth! You mountains, break into happy cries! For the Lord consoles his people and takes pity on those who are afflicted. For Zion was saying, 'the Lord has abandoned me, the Lord has forgotten me'.

Does a woman forget her baby at the breast, or fail to cherish the son of her womb? Yet even if these forget, I will never forget you.

See, I have carved you on the palms of my hands.

The word of the Lord.

7.

A reading from the book of Lamentations (3:17-26)

My soul is shut out from peace; I have forgotten happiness.

And now I say, 'My strength is gone, that hope which came from the Lord'.

Brooding on my anguish and affliction is gall and wormwood.

My spirit ponders it continually and sinks within me.

This is what I shall tell my heart, and so recover hope:

the favours of the Lord are not all past, his kindnesses are not exhausted; every morning they are renewed; great is his faithfulness.

'My portion is the Lord' says my soul 'and so I will hope in him.'

The Lord is good to those who trust him, to the soul that searches for him.

It is good to wait in silence for the Lord to save.

The word of the Lord.

Shorter Form of Reading number 7

A reading from the book of Lamentations (3:22-26)

The favours of The Lord are not all past, his kindnesses are not exhausted; every morning they are renewed; great is his faithfulness.

'My portion is the Lord' says my soul ‘and so I will hope in him.'

The Lord is good to those who trust him, to the soul that searches for him. It is good to wait in silence for the Lord to save.

The word of the Lord.

8.

A reading from the prophet Daniel 12:1-3

I, Daniel, was doing penance when I received this message from the Lord:

'At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who mounts guard over your people. There is going to be a time of great distress, unparalleled since nations first came into existence. When that time comes, your own people will be spared, all those whose names are found written in the Book.

Of those who lie sleeping in the dust of the earth many will awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting disgrace.

The learned will shine as brightly as the vault of heaven, and those who have instructed many in virtue, as bright as stars for all eternity.

The word of the Lord.

9.

A reading from the second book of Maccabees (12:43-45)

Judas, the leader of the Jews, took a collection from the people individually, amounting to nearly two thousand drachmae, and sent it to Jerusalem to have a sacrifice for sin offered, an altogether fine and noble action, in which he took full account of the resurrection. For if he had not expected the fallen to rise again it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead, whereas if he had in view the splendid recompense reserved for those who make a pious end, the thought was holy and devout. This was why he had this atonement sacrifice offered for the dead, so that they might be released from their sin.

The word of the Lord.

10.

A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes (3:1-11)

There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven:

A time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for planting, a time for uprooting what has been planted.

A time for killing, a time for healing; a time for knocking down,

a time for building.

A time for tears, a time for laughter; a time for mourning,

a time for dancing.

A time for throwing stones away, a time for gathering them up;

a time for embracing, a time to refrain from embracing.

A time for searching, a time for losing; a time for keeping,

a time for throwing away.

A time for tearing, a time for sewing; a time for keeping silent,

a time for speaking.

A time for loving, a time for hating; a time for war, a time for peace.

What does a man gain for the efforts that he makes? I contemplate the task that God gives mankind to labour at. All that he does is apt for its time; but though he has permitted man to consider time in its wholeness, man cannot comprehend the work of God from beginning to end.

The word of the Lord.

Shorter Form of Reading number 10

A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes: (3:1-7,11)

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to root up what is planted;

A time to break down and a time to build up;

A time to weep and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn and a time to dance;

A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to seek, and a time to lose;

A time to keep and a time to discard;

A time to tear, and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

God has made everything suitable for its time.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalms

The Psalm is usually sung. It is a response to the Word of God which is proclaimed in the First Reading. The following are some suggestions;

A.

Ps: 26:1.4.7-9.13-14

Response: The Lord is my light and my help

The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; Before whom shall I shrink? (Response)

There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long, to live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to savour the sweetness of the Lord, to behold his temple. (Response)

O, Lord, hear my voice when I call; have mercy and answer.

It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; hide not your face. (Response)

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.

Hope in the Lord! (Response)

B.

Ps. 11:4:5-6; 115:10-11. 15-16

Response: I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

How gracious is the Lord and just; our God has compassion.

The Lord protects the simple hearts; I was helpless so he saved me. (Response)

I trusted, even when I said: