Why do catholics have rosaries before a funeral?

Answer 1

+ Funeral +

A Catholic funeral is broken into three parts.

The Vigil. The night before the Requiem Mass, a prayer service is celebrated. Eulogies are said at this time. The Irish culture call this a wake. A reception with food may follow.

The Requiem Mass. A full Mass with Scripture read and explained and Eucharist (Holy Communion) received with extra funeral prayers.

The Burial. A short final prayer service at graveside. A reception at someone's home with food may follow.

Here is a nice link to some recommended readings for Catholic funerals: http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/OCF/Lectionary.html
http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/OCF/index.html

+ Parying for the Dead +

However Catholics do pray for the dead for the following reasons:

+ We pray that the the dead person was right with God at the time of his (or her) death. God can do anything and is not constrained by a little thing like time.

+ We pray that the dead person will not have a hard process of purgation.

Yes, Catholics believe in Purgatory.

Are you perfect now? Most people would say no.

Will you be perfect in heaven? Most people believe yes.

Purgatory (or purgation) is the process of God's love changing our imperfect selves into perfect beings.

Depending on the amount of change needed by different people this can be an easy or slightly harder process.

Everyone in purgatory is on their way to heaven.

I don't think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Rosaries follow the "Stations of the Cross" (the events leading up to Christ's death then the Resurrection. As Christ died on the cross and arose to be seated at the right hand of the Father -- so too shall those who die then are buried in the Catholic tradition. We will all share eternal life in paradise as Christ did upon his ascension into Heaven. The following link explains the steps of the Rosary following the Stations of the Cross: http://www.rosary-center.org/howto.htm#loaded

Answer 3

Many Catholics don't know any better. Most people who use the Rosary believe that the practice originated with Christianity. However, historical evidence discloses that the practice of reciting prayers and counting them on a string of beads predated the beginning of Christianity. Commenting on the origin of the Rosary, The World Book Encyclopedia reports: “Prayer beads are of ancient origin, and were probably first used by the Buddhists. Both Buddhists and Muslims make use of them in their prayers.” The Catholic Encyclopedia acknowledges that prayer beads were universally familiar to non-Christians for centuries and were in use long before the Catholic Church adopted the Rosary.

Answer 4

First of all - not all do. It is comforting for some to say the Blessed Rosary and the Sorrowful Mysteries, as Mary Herself lost Her Beloved Son, and meditation on these particular Mysteries can sometimes assist in helping those that are grieving link their sorrow to the Sorrow of the Blessed Virgin.

Answer 5

It is comforting and helps soothe the grief stricken mind of those in mourning. Not everyone uses them but many find them helpful.