Music

Music Suggestions for Funerals

Music is integral to the church’s funeral rites. It allows the community to express convictions and feelings that words alone may fail to convey. Since music can evoke strong feelings, the music for a funeral should be chosen with great care. As part of the liturgy, the music should support, console, and uplift the participants as well as help to create in them a spirit of hope in Christ’s victory over death and in the Christian’s share in that victory.

Funeral liturgies that are included in the mass require five hymns: (1) an entrance hymn, (2) a psalm, (3) a hymn during the offertory, (4) a hymn during communion, and (5) a closing hymn. If the funeral service is outside of the mass, there is a need for three songs: The entrance, a psalm, and a closing hymn.

Please note, during the Lenten Season songs that contain the “Alleluia” should not be selected.

Entrance Hymns:

*These hymns may also be used for closing.

Psalms:

  • Psalm 23 (The Lord is My Shepherd; There’s Nothing I Shall Want)
  • Psalm 25 (To You, O Lord, I Lift My Soul)
  • Psalm 27 (The Lord is My Light and My Salvation)
  • Psalm 63 (My Soul is Thirsting for You, O Lord My God)
  • Psalm 103 (The Lord is Kind and Merciful)
  • Psalm 116 (I Will Walk in the Presence of the Lord in the Land of the Living)
  • Psalm 122 (Let Us Go Rejoicing to the House of the Lord)

Texts for the psalms are available here.

Offertory:

* These hymns express devotion to Mary.

Communion:

Closing Hymns:

For More Information

James PeckFuneral Coordinator
(602) 368-5204