Order of Christian Funerals
Lectionary Readings
- Masses for the Dead
- For the Burial of Children
Related Pages
- Choosing the readings
- Copyright Information - for using readings in service sheets
Resources
- Choosing the Readings (pdf)
- Reading at a Funeral (pdf)
Masses for the Dead
Note from the Lectionary
Readings are presented in pairings. These are suggestions only. Any other suitable pairing may be used, and readings should be chosen with care, having regard to the pastoral needs of the occasion.
Notes
In the first column a number of sigla are used to indicate information about the readings and to suggest a clear way of indicating each reading during preparation for a funeral.
- O = Old Testament
- P = Responsorial Psalm
- N = New Testament
- V = Alleluia Verse and Verses before the Gospel (Gospel Acclamation)
- G = Gospel
- s = shorter form
- E = for use in the Easter Season
For Download
- Masses for the Dead Biblical Readings (pdf)
- Provides the texts of all the Readings given in the Lectionary for Funerals and other Masses for the Dead.
- Each text is also available for download individually in the table below.
- These texts are provided to help choose appropriate readings for the funeral. They may also be given to readers to help them prepare for the liturgy. If they are used in the liturgy they should be inserted, in order, into a worthy folder and placed on the Ambo (where the readings are proclaimed from). Individual readers bringing up pieces of paper should be avoided.
- Masses for the Dead For the burial of Children (pdf)
- In addition to the texts collected above the Lectionary provides a selection of readings chosen for the funeral of a child.
- They are also given as individual downloads in the table below.
- Guide to choosing the Readings — (pdf)
- Reading at a Funeral — (pdf)
- A guide for readers, especially those who may not have read in church before.
| First Reading from the Old Testament — Outside the Easter Season | ||||
| Each reading is paired with a recommended psalm. | psalm | text | ||
| O-1 | Job 19:1. 23–27 | This I know: that my Avenger lives. | 26 |  |
| O-2 | Wisdom 3:1–9 | He accepted them as a holocaust | 114 | |
| O-2s | Wisdom 3:1–6. 9 (shorter) | He accepted them as a holocaust | 114 | |
| O-3 | Wisdom 4:7–15 | Untarnished life, this is ripe old age. | 22 r.4 | |
| O-4 | Isaiah 25:6–9 | The Lord will destroy Death for ever. | 22 r.1 | |
| O-5 | Lamentations 3:17–26 | It is good to wait in silence for the Lord to save. | 24 | |
| O-6 | Daniel 12:1–3 | Those who lie sleeping in the dust will awake. | 41 | |
| O-7 | 2 Maccabees 12:43–45 | A fine and noble action, in which he took account of the resurrection. | 102 | |
| First Reading from the New Testament — In the Easter Season | ||||
| Each reading is paired with a recommended psalm. | psalm | text | ||
| N-1E | Acts 10:34–43 | God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. | 62 | |
| N-1Es | Acts 10:34–36. 42–43 (shorter) | God has appointed Jesus to judge everyone, alive or dead. | 62 | |
| N-2E | Apocalypse 14:13 | Happy are those who die in the Lord! | 129 | |
| N-3E | Apocalypse 20:11–21:1 | The dead are judged according to what they had done in their lives. | 142 | |
| N-4E | Apocalypse 21:1–7 | There will be no more death. | 121 | |
| Responsorial Psalm | ||||
| P-1a | Ps 22 r.1 | The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. |
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| P-1b | Ps 22 r.4 | If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear, for you are there with me. |
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| P-2 | Ps 24:6–7. 17–18. 20–21 r.1 or 3 | To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. or Those who hope in you, O Lord, shall not be disappointed. |
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| P-3 | Ps 26:1.4.7–9. 13–14 r. 1 or 12 | The Lord is my light and my help. or I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. |
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| P-4 | Ps 41:2. 3. 5 r.3 | My soul is thirsting fro God , the God of my life. | |
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| P-5 | Ps 62:2–6. 8–9 r.2 | For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God. | |
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| P-6 | Ps 102: 8. 10. 13–18 r. 8 or Ps 36:39 |
The Lord is compassion and love. or The salvation of the just comes from the Lord. |
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| P-7 | Ps 114:5–6; Ps 115:10–11. 15–16 r. 114:9 |
I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living. or Alleluia! |
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| P-8 | Ps 121 r. 1 or cf. 1 | I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’ or Let us go to God’s house, rejoicing. |
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| P-9 | Ps 129 r.1 or cf. 5 | Out of the depths, I cry to you, O Lord. or I wait for the Lord, I count on his word. |
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| P-10 | Ps 142:1–2. 5–8. 10 r.1 | Lord, listen to my prayer. | |
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| Second Reading from New Testament | ||||
| N-1 | Romans 5:5–11 | Having died to make us righteous, is it likely that he would now fail to save us from God’s anger. | |
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| N-2 | Romans 5:17–21 | However great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater. | |
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| N-3 | Romans 6:3–9 | Let us live a new life. | |
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| N-3s | Romans 6:3–4. 8–9 | Let us live a new life. | |
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| N-4 | Romans 8:14–23 | We wait for our bodies to be set free. | |
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| N-5 | Romans 8:31–35. 37–39 | Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ. | |
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| N-6 | Romans 14:7–12 | Alive or dead, we belong to the Lord. | |
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| N-7 | 1 Corinthians 15:20–28 | All men will be brought to life in Christ. | |
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| N-7s | 1 Corinthians 15:20–23 | All men will be brought to life in Christ. | |
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| N-8 | 1 Corinthians 15:51–57 | Death is swallowed up in victory. | |
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| N-9 | 2 Corinthians 3:14–5:1 | Visible things last only for a time, but the invisible are eternal. | |
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| N-10 | 2 Corinthians 5:1. 6–10 | We have an everlasting home in heaven. | |
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| N-11 | Philippians 3:20–21 | He will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. | |
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| N-12 | 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 | We shall stay with the Lord for ever. | |
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| N-13 | 2 Timothy 2:8–13 | If we die with him, then we shall live with him. | |
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| N-14 | 1 John 3:1–2 | We shall see him as he really is. | |
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| N-15 | 1 John 3:14–16 | We have passed our of death and into life be-cause we love our brothers. | |
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| Gospel Acclamation | ||||
| V-1 | Cf. Matthew 11:25 | Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. |
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| V-2 | Matthew 25:34 | Come, you whom my Father has blessed, says the Lord; take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. |
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| V-3 | John 3:16 | God loved the world so much that we gave his only Son; everyone who believes in him has eternal life. |
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| V-4 | John 6:39 | It is my Father’s will, says the Lord, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day. |
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| V-5 | John 6:40 | It is my Father’s will, says the Lord, that whoever believes in the Son shall have eternal life, and that I shall raise him up on the last day. |
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| V-6 | John 6:51–52 | I am the living bread which has come down from heaven, says the Lord. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever. |
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| V-7 | John 11:25–26 | I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord: whoever believes in me will never die. |
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| V-8 | Philippians 3:20 | Our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the Saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ. |
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| V-9 | 2 Timothy 2:11–12 | If we have died with Christ, then we shall live with him; if we hold firm, then we shall reign with him. |
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| V-10 | Apocalypse 1:5–6 | Jesus Christ is the First-born from the dead; to him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen |
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| V-11 | Apocalypse 14:13 | Happy are those who die in the Lord! Now they can rest for ever after their work, since their good deeds go with them. |
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| Gospel | ||||
| Gospel Readings are paired with a recommended Gospel Acclamation | ||||
| G-1 | Matthew 5:1–12 | Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. | 2 | |
| G-2 | Matthew 11:25–30 | Come to me, and I will give you rest. | 1 | |
| G-3 | Matthew 25:1–13 | The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him. | 8 | |
| G-4 | Matthew 25:31–46 | Come, you whom my Father has blessed | 2 | |
| G-5 | Mark 15:22–29; 16:1–6 | Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. | 9 | |
| G-5a | Mark 15:33–39 (shorter) | Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. | 9 | |
| G-6 | Luke 7:11–17 | Young man, I tell you to get up. | 7 | |
| G-7 | Luke 12:35–40 | Stand ready | 8 | |
| G-8 | Luke 23:33. 39–43 | Today you will be with me in paradise. | 11 | |
| G-9 | Luke 23:44-46. 50. 52–53; 24:1–6 | Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. | 10 | |
| G-9s | Luke 23:44–46. 50. 52–53(shorter) | Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. | 10 | |
| G-10 | Luke 24:13–35 | Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and enter into his glory? | 3 | |
| G-10s | Luke 24:13–16. 28–35 (shorter) | Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and enter into his glory? | 3 | |
| G-11 | John 5:24–29 | Whoever listens to my words and believes has passed from death to life. | 2 | |
| G-12 | John 6:37–40 | Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day. | 4 | |
| G-13 | John 6:51–58 | Anyone who eats this bread has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day. | 6 | |
| G-14 | John 11:17–27 | I am the resurrection and the life. | 7 | |
| G-14s | John 11:21–27 (shorter) | I am the resurrection and the life. | 7 | |
| G-15 | John 11:32–45 | Lazarus, come out | 3 | |
| G-16 | John 12:23–28 | If a wheat grain dies, it yields a rich harvest. | 11 | |
| G-16s | John 12:23–26 (shorter) | If a wheat grain dies, it yields a rich harvest. | 11 | |
| G-17 | John 14:1–6 | There are many rooms in my Father’s house | 5 | |
| G-18 | John 17:24–26 | I want them to be with me where I am. | 4 | |
| G-19 | John 19:17–18. 25–30 | Bowing his head he gave up his spirit. | 7 | |
For the Burial of Children
a. Burial of Baptised Children
- First Reading from the Old Testament
- First Reading from the New Testament
- Responsorial Psalm
- Second Reading from the New Testament
- Gospel Acclamation
- Gospel
| First Reading from the Old Testament | ||||
| OC-1 | Isaiah 25:6. 7–9 | The Lord will destroy Death for ever. | 22 | |
| OC-2 | Lamentations 3:22–26 | It is good to wait in silence for the Lord to save. | 24 | |
| First Reading from the New Testament | ||||
| NC-1E | Apocalypse 7:9–10. 15–17 | God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. | 148 | |
| NC-2E | Apocalypse 21:1. 3–5 | There will be no more death. | 41 | |
| Responsorial Psalm | ||||
| PC-1 | Ps 22 r.1 | The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. | |
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| PC-2 | Ps 24:4–7. 20–21 r. 1 | To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. | |
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| PC-3 | Ps 41:2–3. 5; 42:3–5 r Ps 41:3 | My soul is thirsting for God, the God of my life. | |
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| PC-4 | Ps 148: 1–2. 11–14 r.13 | Praise the name of the Lord. or Alleluia! |
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| Second Reading from the New Testament | ||||
| NC-1 | Romans 6:3–4. 8–9 | We believe that we shall return to life with Christ. | |
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| NC-2 | Romans 14:7–9 | Alive or dead, we belong to the Lord. | |
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| NC-3 | 1 Corinthians 15:20–23 | All men will be brought to life in Christ. | |
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| NC-4 | Ephesians 1:3–5 | Before the world was made God chose us in Christ. | |
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| NC-5 | 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14. 18 | We shall stay with the Lord for ever.. | |
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| Gospel Acclamation | ||||
| VC-1 | Cf. Matthew 11:25 | Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. |
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| VC-2 | John 6:39 | It is my Father’s will, says the Lord, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day. |
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| VC-3 | 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 | Blessed be God, a gentle Father and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows. |
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| Gospel | ||||
| Gospels are paired with a recommended Gospel Acclamation | ||||
| GC-1 | Matthew 11:25–30 | You have hidden these things from the clever, and have revealed them to mere children | 1 | |
| GC-2 | John 6:37–40 | It is my Father’s will that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me. | 2 | |
| GC-2s | John 6:37–39 (shorter) | It is my Father’s will that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me. | 2 | |
| GC-3 | John 6:51–58 | Anyone who eats this bread has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day. [For a child who has received the eucharist] |
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| GC-4 | John 11:32–38.40 | If you believe, you will see the glory of God. | 3 | |
| GC-5 | John 19:25–30 | This is your mother | 3 | |
b Burial of Non-baptised Children
| First Reading from the Old Testament | ||||
| ON-1 | Isaiah 25:6–8 | The Lord will destroy Death for ever. | 24 | |
| ON-2 | Lamentations 3:22–26 | It is good to wait in silence for the Lord to save. | 24 | |
| Responsorial Psalm | ||||
| PN-1 | Ps 24:4–7. 17. 20 r. 1 or 3 | To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. or Those who hope in you, O Lord, shall not be disappointed. |
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| Gospel Acclamation | ||||
| VN-1 | 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 | Blessed be God, a gentle Father and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows. |
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| VN-2 | Apocalypse 1:5–6 | Jesus Christ is the First-born from the dead; to him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. |
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| Gospel | ||||
| Gospels are paired with a recommended Gospel Acclamation | ||||
| GN-1 | Matthew 11:25–30 | You have hidden these things from the clever, and have revealed them to mere children | 2 | |
| GN-2 | Mark 15:33–46 | Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. | 1 | |
| GN-3 | John 19:25–30 | This is your mother. | 1 | |