Can someone fill me in on a bit of Catholic ritual please?

Question

I went to a Catholic funeral yesterday - and I didn't even burst into flames when I walked into the church!

After the mass (is that even the right word?) when people went up to "take the biscuit," the deceased's family didn't. Were they simply not Catholic, or was there some reason why they weren't "allowed" to?

Also, only the Father got to drink the wine, which I thought was a tad unfair - is that a concession to hygiene, or is that usual too?

Thanks guys.

I love this - the fundies (from at least two extremes, I hasten to add) are hassling me for even ASKING about Catholics. I knew you people were screwed up, but wow.

Come on, I got "reported for being an Athiest" last night, is someone gonna report me for daring to acknowledge Catholics exist now?

Thanks for the grown up and informative answers.

I didn't actually know the person the funeral was for (his wife is a friend of my mother's, I went to support them) but thanks for the nice thoughts too.

Answer 1

"burst into flames when I walked into the church!" LOL! That's a great one! LOL! Never heard that before!

Yes, Mass is the right word. The "biscuit", lol, is Holy Communion, the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We Catholics have great respect for this blessed sacrament. If the family did not receive communion, either they weren't Catholic, or, if they were, a state of grave mortal sin may have prevented their reception of the Sacred Host.

"only the Father got to drink the wine, which I thought was a tad unfair" lol! I kinda see why you thought this, :D. During the liturgy of the Eurcharist, both wine and bread are consecrated, giving us the body and blood of Christ. Usually the faithful only receive the bread, which is perfectly okay.

Anyway, glad to see you experienced a Catholic funeral. Call me morbid or weird, but I had experienced my first Catholic funeral a year or so ago after I became Catholic, also. I thought the funeral was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen! This is because before that, I'd only been to protestant funerals and had never seen a Catholic funeral. What amazed me is that with the Catholics, a mass is celebrated for the deceased, which is the most perfect thing you can do for them and their grieving family. The family is then fed Sacred Communion! I just couldn't believe what I'd seen! The grieved family is being consoled and comforted by the body of Christ! After that, I fell in love with Catholic funerals.

It's okay, you can call me wacked all you like. I'm getting used to it, lol!

God bless.

Answer 2

I've only been to two Catholic funerals (my grandparents on my mom's side). I don't remember the family not getting Communion (it's called a Host, not a biscuit). I know I took Communion, and I was family. I'm positive my mom did (dad is Protestant, so he couldn't) and I'm sure my grandfather did (at grandma's funeral).

As for the priest being the only one to drink the Communal wine, that's the way I've always seen it. He takes a sip of wine to present the gifts (there is maybe two sips total in there) and he takes the last sip before putting the wine away after everyone has communion. You're not supposed to waste anything that's been blessed.

I am sorry for your loss.

Answer 3

Thank you for showing respect by asking.

If the family members are Catholic then they can receive Communion. They may not have been to church for a while and may not have felt comfortable receiving Communion without first going to Confession.

This happens a lot with "bred, wed, and dead" Catholics. Those who only go to church on Christmas and Easter and for Baptisms, Marriages, and Funerals.

The priest probably did not have the enough trained helpers available to properly distribute the consecrated wine (the Blood of Christ). Usually at a Sunday Mass, Communion is distributed in both species, the Body and Blood of Christ.

Come back anytime. You are always welcome.

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

I used to be an altar boy and got a pretty good insight into the ritual.

It always amazed that no one seemed to be paying attention to the words they were reciting.

There's a part of the mass where they read a thing called "the creed" where they declare all the details of their faith. I can gaurantee that most have never understood the implications of just that part.

When they do the communion, there are conditions to being able to recieve it (I've forgotten what they are). At funerals, you get a lot of people who sit through they service doing all the responses, but they're not prepared to do the "eat the body of christ" bit. It's supposed to be mimicking the last supper. The logistics of getting everyone to drink his blood as well get a bit harder so it happens in very few places.
Some people also are happy to attend mass on a regular basis but avoid the communion bit.

It's all very strange.

Answer 5

I am glad you did not burst into flame.

Yes, "Mass" is the correct word.

By "take the biscuit" I assume you mean "receive Eucharist". The correct term for the "biscuit" is host.

There could be many reasons why the deceased's family did not participate in Eucharist. They may not have been Catholic, they may have unconfessed mortal sin on their souls, or they may not have felt up to recieving Eucharist considering their emotional state.

Depending on the diocese, sometimes only the priest drinks from the chalice (cup). In other dioceses, the congregation does drink from the same cup.

Feel free to contact me with any other questions. I am always willing to answer respectful questions.

Answer 6

Yes, it's a mass...

The family may or may not have been practicing Catholics. If they were not, then they would not receive the Eucharist. If they are practicing Catholics, they may have had thier reasons for not receiving...such as being in a state of mortal sin.

It's not necessary for everyone to drink the Precious Blood of Christ...because during the celebration of the Mass, the priest puts a piece of the Host in the Prescious Blood...this makes them one. So, when you receive the Eucharist...you receive both.

Answer 7

They most likely chose not to take it. As for the wine, it depends on the church. I have been to funerals that the priest did and did not share the wine.

Former catholic.

Answer 8

There are a few reasons they may not have been allowed to take communion. They may not have been Catholic. They may have been divorced. Maybe they just didn't want to.

Answer 9

The people who didn't participate in communion probably weren't Catholic.

Wine is too expensive for the plebs.

Answer 10

its all an authority trip.
completely bogus.
a hierarchy where you are on the bottom
then the priest, ... pope, god.
funny cause even their bible says jesus is the only thing
between you and god.