While burial remains the more typical and preferred practice, it is no longer uncommon for Catholics to choose cremation. The Church teaches that the body should be cared for with great respect and dignity, both as God’s creation and as former temples of the Holy Spirit, and as an expression of our hope in the risen life to come.

The Order of Christian Funerals offers three options with the cremated body, which the Church considers to be a representation of the physical body. The preferred option is to have the cremation follow the funeral service, with a disposition of the cremated body through burial in a cemetery. Alternatively, the bereaved may gather for the committal of the cremated remains at the cemetery first, followed by a funeral liturgy at the church. Lastly, in the case of direct or immediate cremation, a funeral liturgy at the church may follow with burial of the remains at an appropriate time.

The practice of scattering cremated body on the sea or on the ground is not encouraged, nor is dividing the cremated body or keeping the urn at the home of a relative or friend, although burial at sea in an urn is acceptable.

Yes. A veteran is not eligible for standard burial benefits if theThe vigil often takes place at the Church, in the funeral home, or at the home of the family. Generally, a priest or deacon will preside, but a layperson may also preside. The primary purpose of the vigil is to provide mourners with an opportunity to pray, offer support and condolences to the family, and to hear or give tributes and eulogies.

A few things differentiate a Requiem Mass (Funeral Mass) from a regular Catholic Mass. These differences include:

• The casket of the deceased will be received by the priest at the front door. He will sprinkle the casket with holy water, cover it with a pall, and lead the procession to place the casket on the catafalque (funerary platform).
• The liturgy often includes passages from the Old Testament, read by the priest, family, or friends.
• The priest often reads a psalm, a passage from the Gospels, and delivers a homily/eulogy.
• Some, but not all, Catholic funerals include a Final Commendation, which is an additional eulogy after Holy Communion has been offered.
• At the conclusion of the Requiem Mass, the casket is sprinkled with holy water once again before it is carried from the Church.

Anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour, depending on whether it is a full Mass or not.

At a Catholic funeral, the mood will be formal and somber. It is appropriate to wear dark-colored clothing, such as black, charcoal, or gray. Wear something modest, though not casual. Jeans, hoodies, t-shirts, sportswear, and casual footwear are not recommended.

While prayers are being recited, you can stay seated with your head bowed. There will be parts of the Mass that require you to alternate between standing and kneeling. If you are unable to kneel, that’s fine, but try to at least stand.

If you are not Catholic, do not to take part in Holy Communion. You can follow the procession to receive a blessing from the priest, if you wish, but it is not required.

Absolutely! In fact, personalization is encouraged as long it does not interfere with the Church rites that must be completed. You can speak with both a funeral director and the priest to determine if your personalization plans are appropriate for a Catholic funeral.