Is it normal for a Catholic Preist to hold communion during a funeral service?

Question

I have been to 3 in lifetime and only seen this once.

Yesterday nearing the end of my Grandfathers ceremony the preist held communion, I dont remember this being discussed before hand and it felt slightly innapropriate. He had also changed swapped some of the selected hymns, even though I am not a Christian I don't mind singing hymns but there were some there I did not feel comfortable with.

Is this normal procedure?

Answer 1

Yes. That's what they do.

Answer 2

The Liturgy of the Eucharist is part of every Mass. If you attend a funeral Mass, there is Communion. If you attend a funeral rite, there is not.

Communion is appropriate for a funeral Mass because the living go on living, and grieving people need to be close to Jesus. The Eucharist is a way to be physically close to Jesus.

I don't know about the hymns. Perhaps the family had requested hymns that the priest thought were inappropriate, or perhaps the priest had an inspiration in writing the homily (sermon) and wanted to change the hymns to something that supported his homily better, or perhaps the organist who was supposed to play for the funeral was ill and the substitute organist couldn't play the ones selected and had to make a change. There could be other scenarios, too. The only way to know for sure would be to ask the priest.

What was it that you did not feel comfortable singing?

Answer 3

what do you mean "held communion" and ceremony. at funeral masses there is always communion services unless it's requested to only have the service and not the full Mass. not having the full mass is quite different.
was the service in the chapel at the funeral home?! it could have been in your grandfathers will to have the service or the request of the family.

i'd need to know a little more about the hymns -- if this was in the church they often don't allow non religious music so hymns, while not for your taste, are what is the preference for the masses. Do you know if your grnadfather knew the priest and could have had things established prior to his death? at the age of 28 my funeral had already been planned so it's not off the wall.

Answer 4

Yes.

A Catholic funeral is broken into three parts.

The Vigil. This used to be called the Rosary. The night before the Requiem Mass, a prayer service is celebrated. Eulogies and/or the rosary may also be 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

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

Yes, we have communion at every mass or service we hold. That includes weddings too.
Normally there will be a normal service before the actuall event.

Answer 6

I have been to a few catholic funerals. I have also noticed that when a mass is said at a funeral it often includes communion. I guess they do this because it is part of a normal mass.

Answer 7

It is very appropriate to have a funeral Mass for a person and that Mass includes communion.

Even though the deceased is not part of the life that we know, he or she is still a member of the Body of Christ and when the Body of Christ gathers, it is appropriate to have a Mass.

Answer 8

if it is a catholic preist then yes he shouldnt have changed the songs though

Answer 9

It's normal and appropriate.