Funerals, Mass Intentions, and Purgatory
The loss of a loved one is never easy. It is a milestone moment in their life and ours. Our Catholic funeral rituals are designed to help us know that God is with us in our mourning and to renew us in the hope of the Resurrection.
- Here is a blog article, "Why Do We Celebrate Funerals?", Fr. Jeff wrote on why we celebrate funerals as both a corporal and spiritual work of mercy. He also helps us understand why we use readings from the Bible and Catholic hymns at funerals.
- Here is a homily Fr. Jeff gave at a Sunday Mass in November 2017 that explained our funeral customs.
- Here is an article Fr. Jeff wrote on grieving, "Allowing Ourselves to Grieve".
- Here is a homily Fr. Jeff offered at a Mass of Remembrance in November 2019 reflecting on our custom of praying for the dead in the month of November and offering Mass Intentions.
- Fr. Jeff also addressed the topic of funerals, Mass intentions, and Purgatory in his first presentation on the Sacraments. Below is an excerpt with that portion. (His full series on the sacraments can be found here.)
- For more on Purgatory, see Fr. Jeff's article, "Purgatory as a Gift That Gets Us in Shape for Heaven."
- Here are some articles on our Catholic understanding of how we treat the body after earthly death:
- While cremation was not allowed in the Catholic Church in many years past, it is allowed today. Here is a link to a Vatican document written in 2016 - “Instruction Ad resurgendum cum Christo regarding the burial of the deceased and the conservation of the ashes in the case of cremation.”
- On May 4, 2022), following some commentary from Rome, Fr. Jeff wrote a blog article - "Respecting the Dead" on new methods to "dispose" of bodies that do not respect the body.
- Update - April 13, 2023 - In March (2023), the United States Conference of Catholic bishops issued a new document on new methods of disposing of human bodies, "On the Proper Disposition of Bodily Remains." Fr. Jeff then wrote this new article - "More on Respecting the Dead"
My son, shed tears for one who is dead with wailing and bitter lament; as is only proper, prepare the body, and do not absent yourself from the burial”
Sirach 38:16
(Double-click on the video to change to full-screen press "ESC" to change it back)