• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

Funerals: The Most Challenging Pastoral Responsibility

Richard J. Clark · March 22, 2019

E HAVE ALL been there. As pastoral musicians, at times one experiences particularly difficult and emotional funerals. They could include the death of a child or bright promising young adult. There is devastating tragedy and those who battled illness or addiction. Maybe it is a parent of young children. Such funerals can weigh the heavily upon a priest, pastoral staff, and a volunteer bereavement ministry.

Meanwhile, the grieving are not liturgical experts, nor should they be. Also challenging is navigating societal customs and expectations imposed upon Roman Catholic funerals, such as celebrating one’s life or memorializing the deceased with personal preferences. Understandably lost in a sea of grief may be the centrality of Christ and an understanding of praying for the soul of the deceased—a great act of love. The beauty of the Roman Catholic funeral is that we place the Eucharist at the center even in death—especially in death. The focus on Christ in the Funeral Mass is a priceless gem, a lifeline in grief.

But fielding requests for liturgically inappropriate music is the norm. How does one tell the mother who has lost a child that certain music is not appropriate or allowed at the Funeral Mass?

HIS TOPIC DESERVES volumes, but such challenges can be distilled with the great salutary effects a musician’s pastoral presence. Meeting with or speaking directly with a family may have as much healing impact as the particular outcome of the discussion. It requires diplomacy, empathy, patience, experience, and an arsenal of alternate suggestions at hand to gently guide a grieving family toward a funeral Mass that truly places Christ at the center. Ideally, this is accomplished with music that “should console and uplift the grieving while expressing a spirit of hope in the Christian’s share in Christ’s victory over death.” (Order of Christian Funerals #31, emphasis added)

Additionally, there are multiple views on the word “pastoral.” The common perspective is to allow what is less than ideal for reasons of accommodation. But a second is often overlooked: to model and offer the ideal whenever possible. (With funerals, it is often a combination of the two. And both views require a personal presence!) Placing Christ at the center of our sacred music is a pastoral responsibility. It speaks universally regardless of one’s religious inclination or practice. Consciously or not, hope, comfort, and joyful hope of sharing in Christ’s resurrection is a pastoral response. This pastoral response flows though for music that is 1) sacred, 2) beautiful, and 3) universal. (Tra le Sollecitudini §1-2)

Related Article: • Ministry of Consolation • A Case for Congregational Singing at Funerals


UPDATED FUNERAL POLICY • ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON

      * *   In December of 2018, the Archdiocese of Boston released an updated funeral policy that covers a broad range of issues. You can download it here.

Pages 13 and 14 address “Music in the Funeral Mass.” It’s important to note there is truly nothing new here. Why? “The same liturgical norms applied to music at any Mass apply to the Funeral Mass.” I.e., the liturgy documents, e.g., Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy apply for funerals. Notable is §6 which discusses the three judgments for selecting music as indicated in the 2007 US Bishops’ document Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship (SttL): 1) Pastoral Judgment, 2) Liturgical Judgment, and 3) Musical Judgment.

Also notable is §9 which address the prohibition on secular music (and recorded music in §10):

The request for “favorite songs” of the deceased often result in inappropriate performances of music incapable of bearing the weight liturgy demands. Secular music, even if personally meaningful to the deceased or mourners, is never appropriate for the Sacred Liturgy. (SttL #246) Popular songs, sentimental ethnic music, songs from theater or film, and even non-liturgical or quasi-religious music are never to substitute for music of the funeral liturgy. Furthermore, “music should never be used to memorialize the deceased, but rather to give praise to the Lord, whose Paschal Sacrifice has freed us from the bonds of death.” (SttL #248)


“WHAT MUSIC IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE FUNERAL OF A LOVED ONE?”

IT IS WISE to develop a good relationship with funeral directors. This will assist in offering appropriate guidance and help to the grieving. To distill a lengthy and dry document, I have offered the following words on “What music is appropriate for a funeral of a loved one?” You can download it here. This also includes some suggested music for the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Feel free to incorporate this or similar language for your parish.

HE CHALLENGE for pastoral musicians at times is to “do it all”: integrate personal compassion and empathy with liturgical and musical expertise, while gently guiding those in grief to the joy and consolation of Christ. One never fully knows the pain and suffering of those who enter the doors of our churches. Our service is an act of love and charity. This is our call.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Order of Christian Funerals Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 17th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (27 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Communion • “Ask & You Shall Receive”
    All of the chants for 27 July 2025 have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (both text and melody) are exceedingly beautiful and ancient.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Jeff’s Mother Joins Our Fundraiser
    To assist our fundraiser, Mrs. Kathleen Ostrowski has drawn several beautiful sketches which she offers to all our readers free of charge. If you have a moment, I invite you download them at this link.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

Many declare that Vatican Council II brought about a true springtime in the Church. Nevertheless, a growing number of Church leaders see this “springtime” as a rejection, a renunciation of her centuries-old heritage, or even as a radical questioning of her past and Tradition. Political Europe is rebuked for abandoning or denying its Christian roots; but the first to have abandoned her Christian roots and past is indisputably the post-conciliar Catholic Church.

— ‘Pope Francis’ Chief Liturgist (31 March 2017)’

Recent Posts

  • Gospel Acclamation Verses … Nowhere Assigned?
  • False! • “Youthful” Music Attracts the Young
  • “I Don’t Care Anymore!” • Lead by Loving Example
  • Installment #2 • “Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation”
  • PDF Comparison Chart • “Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation”

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”

We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.

Our president has written the following letter:

President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

Are you able to support us?

clock.png

Time's up