Funeral Rights (Originally published by National Catholic Register)

Catholics United for the Faith ^ | June 8-14, 2003 | Leon J. Suprenant, Jr.

[Salvation]

**Matter of fact, black is perfectly acceptable in the NO, too. Same with the Dies Irae. You can find it in the rubrics...**

This is good to know.

[Salvation]

**The question is, can you find any black vestments?**

Find a seamstress or tailor and have them made -- new idea?

[VermiciousKnid]

That was a mean-spirited comment, Sink.

Here I was, foolishly thinking you might actually not be aware that black vestments WERE available to purchase and donate.

BTW...no need to hire professional mourners -- there are plenty of us around to do the job ourselves.

Regards,

[sinkspur]

That was a mean-spirited comment, Sink.

It was, and I apologize. It was a stupid remark.

I'm just very surprised that someone would actually go the lengths of purchasing black vestments so that the priest would wear them at somebody's funeral.

Do you ask that the white pall not be placed on the casket? Is the Mass a Tridentine or Novus Ordo?

[VermiciousKnid]

Apology accepted.

My mother's family comes from a decidedly blue-collar area (the coal-mining section of Pennsylvania). There were many parishes there which had literally NOTHING and relied solely on donations from their parishoners. Things are much better today, but our family's tradition lives on.

Sometimes, when things were difficult, the whole family chipped in to purchase (and donate) vestments -- they really aren't that expensive (you can buy a set for about $450), and when you have a large family, the cost gets spread out pretty thin.

The pall is usually white, but with black embroidery on it(and decorating these palls was how I learned to embroider). The Mass is in English, but is almost unrecognizable in its solemnity and language from the Masses I attend here in New York. The Dies Irae is always sung. (I have never heard the Dies Irae sung in New York.)

Regards,

[mlmr]

I was Catholic growing up and went to two distincty different services this year. One for my uncle who had a Rev Bozo kind of guy who kept up a patter and spent lots of time asking for "input." He kept on calling my uncle, a very dignified man, by his family nickname. I was embarrassed.

The other was my father's service which was an old fashioned Catholic high funeral mass. Our only input was that my daughter sang Amazing Grace. Otherwise the entire mass was conducted by a young and conservative priest. It was a delight and honor to be there.

[mlmr]

The vestments were white though. I assumed that was because it was two days after Easter.

[Salvation]

It was so coincidental to come across this article because a friend and I were talking. She sews for our parish and had just made a white pall for the parish.

Another individual just stood quietly by and didn't say anything. So I emailed this article to her. Her response was so positive. She wants people to remember that she was a sinner; she wants them to pray for her. Wasn't this the origiaal intent?

How did the Catholic teaching go all the way over to the other side, thinking that white was OK?

Anyone have any answers, other than the 60x and disinformation being taught in our churches?

[Salvation]

60x=60s

[sinkspur]

How did the Catholic teaching go all the way over to the other side, thinking that white was OK?

Anyone have any answers, other than the 60x and disinformation being taught in our churches?

White signifies hope, the Christian hope in the Resurrection.

It's not a matter of teaching, it's a matter of emphasis. Black was always so dark and final.

And the Dies Irae, whose first line was "O Day of Wrath, O Day of Mourning."

Christ conquered death, so let's pray for the soul of the dead. If he died in the grace of Christ, he is with Christ and, as Christians, that is a matter for rejoicing.

[It's me]

If he died in the grace of Christ

Ahh, that is the point, if. I agree we must continue to pray for the soul of the deceased. But, how many Catholiu funerals have you gone to lately where the priests have told us to pray for the soul?

[Havisham]

I was Catholic growing up and went to two distincty different services this year. One for my uncle who had a Rev Bozo kind of guy...

This is a new one for my dictionary of vernacular. LOL.

[mlmr]

Haven't you seen any of the ads for the Oxford Review? They have ads about Reverend Bozo and his yahoo guitar and literguical dance... Someday when I have money I am going to subscribe.

[sinkspur]

But, how many Catholiu funerals have you gone to lately where the priests have told us to pray for the soul?

All of them.

[Havisham]

I hadn't heard of Rev. Bozo. I was aware of the clown ministry and liturgical dance fad. Ironically, the local high Episcopal church has 'progressed' toward liturgical dances and Harry Potter events. The latter staged on the exterior balcony of the church, but a pagan right nonetheless. Oh, and I almost forgot the meditation labrynth. St. Michael and All Angels was a hold out for the high Anglican tradition but the parish came into money. The rest is history.

[Saint Athanasius]

Great article... it always bothered me when Catholics presummed that the deceased was in heaven... I did not say anything, but I just prayed for the deceased and the family that was grieving.

[Salvation]

**I did not say anything, but I just prayed for the deceased and the family that was grieving.**

Well now, you can copy this article off and show it to your friends. (Not at the funeral, of course, but ahead of time so they are educated.)