There are two services available at St. Lawrence to honor a loved one who has passed, a Funeral Mass or a Memorial Mass. The musical opportunities are much the same as for any other Mass until the final moments and the Rites of Commendation. Please see here below a list of suggested songs that are commonly requested for Funeral or Memorial Masses.
‘Hymn’ choices might include any from the lists provided but the opportunities to sing a hymn or other appropriate song might be restricted to Opening Song, Song for the Preparation of Gifts and Communion Song, particularly since the Song of Farewell is used as the closing song. It is also quite frequently the case that the singing of ‘Ave Maria’ is requested at the Preparation of Gifts and Altar.
Be not afraid
Jesus, Remember Me
Be not afraid
O God our help in ages past
How Great Thou Art
Here I am, Lord
Amazing Grace
Eulogy
The opportunity for a member of the family to say what needs to be said,
especially when an untimely death did not allow it to be said previously,
to articulate the sense of loss and encapsulate the life of the deceased,
is provided in the Rite.
Usually this is delivered after Communion.
Psalm:
This is always sung.
The texts of the psalms provide great strength on such occasions.
The most popular choice is ‘The Lord is my shepherd’
but there are other psalms suggested by Order of Christian Funerals.
Below I recommend some settings of these psalms:
Ps 23: ‘In the Lord’s own house’ (Terry Mathurin)
Ps 23: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want’ (Joseph Gelineau)
Ps 25: “To you, O Lord, I lift my soul’ (Marty Haugen)
Ps 27: ‘The Lord is my light’ (Christopher Walker)
Ps 42: ‘As the deer longs’ (Bob Hurd)
Ps 77: ‘I cry to God and he hears me’ (John Bell)
Ps 122: ‘I rejoiced when I heard them say’ versions by Walker, Dean, and Farrell
Ps 130: Out of the depths (Scott Soper)
Gospel Greeting:
There are many settings of the ‘Alleluia’. Many of these are perhaps too upbeat for use in funerals.
Whilst we are convinced by the joy of resurrection our grief often weighs us down and we need a more solemn setting.
I would recommend the traditional plainsong alleluia and, during Lent, Philip Jakob’s ‘Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ’.
Song for the Preparation of Gifts and Altar
Any song from those listed under ‘Opening Song’ may be used. Alternatively you may prefer to have a soloist sing ‘Ave Maria’ by Schubert or ‘Pie Jesu’ by Faure.
Eucharistic Acclamations: Holy – Memorial Acclamation – Amen and Lamb of God
Generally, we would use the setting used at the Sunday Masses at that time.
Communion Songs
On Eagles’ Wings is the most popular choice but other songs appropriate for Communion may be used.
The Song of Farewell is sung at the end of the celebration while the priest incenses the cremains or the coffin.
At St Lawrence, we prefer to sing the refrain of Ernie Sands’ ‘Song of Farewell’ at this point.
As the celebration concludes and the body is taken to the place of burial verses from Psalm 26 are added to the ‘Song of Farewell’.
John Bell’s ‘Go silent friend’ set to the ‘Londonderry Air/ O Danny Boy’ is also popular but the text is not in our hymn book. However ‘O loving God’ set to the same tune might be used for the final procession.