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French-speaking Parishes in the Niagara RegionDiocese of Saint CatharinesROMAN CATHOLIC FUNERAL READINGSand the Prayers of the FaithfulPASTORAL TEAM72 Empire Welland On, L3B 2L4 - Tél :(905)-735-5823;Fax: (289)-820-6942.(Picture design: by Fr. Luc A. Samba)

General instructions1. The first reading is taken from the Old Testament.2. The Psalms are chosen according to their singular message for the celebration ofthe funeral. Each psalm follows immediately after the first reading; it can be sung orjust read.3. The second reading is taken from the New Testament.4. The Gospel is taken also from the New Testament. In fact, it should be chosen bythe priest, read by him or by another ordained minister.5. The prayer of the faithful is chosen from among those suggested by this document.In meeting with the priest, it will be possible to add one or two intentions that mayreflect directly the life of the deceased or the thoughtfulness of the family.6. The family will choose the first reading, the second reading, the Psalm and maybethe prayer of the faithful. One member will contact the priest to inform him aboutthe selected readings with the numbers of theirs pages and the names of the personswho will read as well. If possible, one of the member of the family will look forwardto meet with the celebrant. This meeting is highly recommended. It allows thecelebrant to know better the family of the deceased, to have an overview of thecelebration and take knowledge of important aspects of the life of the deceased some aspects that may help in the preparation of the preaching.7. Readers may be members of the family as long as they are trained and have beenchosen a few days before the celebration. In case of non-attendance of the membersof the family, the parish provides readers. The family sould be able to indicate whatmight be comfortable for them.2

First Readings from Old Testamentand Responsorial Psalms3

GENESIS (48: 21; 49: 29-33)A reading from the book of GenesisJacob said to Joseph:“I am about to die. But God will be with youand will restore you to the land of your ancestors.”Then Jacob gave his sons this charge:“Since I am about to be taken to my kindred,bury me with my fathersin the cave that lies in the field of Ephron the Hittite,the cave in the field of Machpelah, facing on Mamre,in the land of Canaan, the field that Abraham boughtfrom Ephron the Hittite for a burial ground.There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried,and so are Isaac and his wife Rebekah,and there, too, I buried Leah— the field and the cave in itthat had been purchased from the Hittites.”When Jacob had finished giving these instructions to his sons,he drew his feet into the bed, breathed his last,and was taken to his kindred.The Word of the Lord.R. Thanks be to God.4

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 23The Lord is my shepherd;there is nothing I shall want.The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside still waters;he restores my soul.He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;for you are with me;your rod and your staff they comfort me.You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow meall the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the Lordmy whole life long.5

2 MACCABEES (12: 43-46)A reading from the second book of MaccabeesJudas the ruler of Israelthen took up a collection among all his soldiers,amounting to two thousand silver drachmas,which he sent to Jerusalemto provide for an expiatory sacrifice.In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way,inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view;for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again,it would have been useless and foolishto pray for them in death.But if he did thiswith a view to the splendid rewardthat awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness,it was a holy and pious thought.Thus he made atonement for the deadthat they might be freed from this sin.The Word of the Lord.R. Thanks be to God.6

Responsorial Psalm- Psalm 25To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.Remember your mercy, Lord,and the love you have shown from of old.Do not remember the sins of my youth.In your love remember me.Relieve the anguish of my heartand set me free from my distress.See my affliction and my toiland take all my sins away.Preserve my life and rescue me.Do not disappoint me, you are my refuge.May innocence and uprightness protect me:for my hope is in you, O Lord.7

JOB (19:1, 23-27a)A reading from the book of JobThen Job answered,“O that my words were written down!O that they were inscribed in a book!O that with an iron pen and with leadthey were engraved on a rock forever!For I know that my Redeemer lives,and that at the last he will stand upon the earth;and after my skin has been thus destroyed,then in my flesh I shall see God,whom I shall see on my side,and my eyes shall behold, and not another.”The Word of the Lord.R. Thanks be to God.8

Responsorial Psalm- Psalm 27I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodnessin the land of the living.The Lord is my light and my salvation;whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life;of whom shall I be afraid?One thing I asked of the Lord,that will I seek after:to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,be gracious to me and answer me!"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"Your face, Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me.I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lordin the land of the living.Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage;wait for the Lord!9

SIRACH (18: 7-10)A reading from the book of SirachThe sum of a person’s days is greatif it reaches a hundred years:Like a drop of sea water,like a grain of sand,so are these few years among the days of eternity.That is why the Lord is patient with usand showers upon us his mercy.The Lord sees and understandsthat our death is grievous,so he forgives us all the more.The Word of the Lord.R.Thanks be to God.10

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 42My soul is thirsting for the living God:when shall I see him face to face?Like the deer that yearnsfor running streams,so my soul is yearningfor you, my God.My soul is thirsting for God,the God of my life;when can I enter and seethe face of God.O send forth your light and your truth;let these be my guide.Let them bring me to your holy mountainto the place where you dwell.And I will come to the altar of God,the God of my joy.My redeemer, I will thank you on the harp,O God, my God.Why are you cast down, my soul,why groan within me?Hope in God; I will praise him still,my savior and my God.11

SIRACH (41: 1-4a)A reading from the book of SirachO death! how bitter the thought of youfor the one at peace amid possessions,for the person unruffled and always successful,who still can enjoy life’s pleasures.O death! how welcome your sentenceto the weak person of failing strength,tottering and always rebuffed,with no more sight, with vanished hope.Fear not death’s decree for you;remember, it embraces those before you, and those after.Thus God has ordained for all flesh;why then should you reject the will of the Most High?The Word of the Lord.R.Thanks be to God.12

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 63My soul is thirsting for you,O Lord my God.”O God, you are my God, for you I long;for you my soul is thirsting.My body pines for youlike a dry, weary land without water.So I gaze on you in the sanctuaryto see your strength and your glory.For your love is better than life;my lips shall speak your praise.So I will bless you all my life,in your name I will lift up my hands.My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,my mouth shall praise you with joy.You have been my help;in the shadow of your wings I rejoiceMy soul clings to you;your right hand holds me fast.13

SIRACH (44: 1a, 10b-15)A reading from the book of SirachNow will I praise those godly people, our ancestorswhose virtues have not been forgotten;Their wealth remains in their families,their heritage with their descendants;Through God’s covenant with themtheir family endures, their posterity, for their sake.And for all time their progeny will endure,their glory will never be blotted out;Their bodies are peacefully laid away,but their name lives on and on.At gatherings their wisdom is retold,and the assembly proclaims their praise.The Word of the Lord.R.Thanks be to God.14

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 71My God, come quickly to help me.In you, Lord, I take refuge;let me never be put to shame.In your justice rescue and deliver me;listen to me and save me!Be my rock of refuge,my stronghold to give me safety;for you are my rock and fortress.My God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked,from the clutches of the evil and violent.You are my hope, Lord;my trust, God, from my youth.On you I have depended since birth;from my mother’s womb you are my strength;my hope in you never wavers.My mouth shall proclaim your just deeds,day after day your acts of deliverance,though I cannot number them all.I will speak of the mighty works of the Lord;O God, I will tell of your singular justice.My lips will shout for joy as I sing your praise;my soul, too, which you have redeemed.Yes, my tongue shall recountyour justice day by day.15

ECCLESIATES (3: 1-8)A reading from the book of EcclesiastesTo everything there is a season,and a time to every purpose under heaven.A time to be born and a time to die;a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;A time to kill and a time to heal;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 get and a time to lose;a time to keep and a time to cast away.A time to rend and a time to sew;a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.A time to love and a time to hate;a time of war, and a time of peaceThe Word of the Lord.R.Thanks be to God.16

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 86God, you are merciful and kind;Turn to me and have mercyIncline your ear, Lord, and answer me,for I am poor and oppressed.Preserve my life, for I am devoted;save your servant who trusts in you.You are my God; be gracious to me, Lord;to you I call all the day.Gladden the soul of your servant;to you, Lord, I lift up my soul.Lord, you are good and forgiving,most merciful to all who call on you.Lord, hear my prayer;listen to my cry for help.Teach me, Lord, your waythat I may walk in your truth,single-hearted and revering your name.I will praise you with all my heart,glorify your name forever, Lord my God.Your mercy to me is great;you have rescued me from the depths of Sheol.But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,slow to anger, abounding in mercy and truth.Turn to me, be gracious to me;give your strength to your servant.17