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In the past couple of weeks people in the Archdiocese of Newark and around the country have received misleading information about the directive I gave to the priests of the Church of Newark concerning the practice of eulogies at funerals. I am sorry that these reports have caused upset to some. Please be assured that all of us who minister to families and friends at the time of a death — clergy, religious, and lay people alike — know full well the range and depth of emotion when a loved one passes away. We ourselves have felt these same emotions when members of our own families have died. We know the need for family and friends to express their feelings to one another at this time. The Christian funeral offers worship, praise and thanksgiving to God, the creator of all life; it commends the deceased person to God’s merciful love; it affirms the bond between the living and the dead in the communion of saints; it brings hope and consolation to the bereaved; it celebrates Christ’s Passover and our participation in it through Christian initiation. (See Order of Christian Funerals (OCP) 1-7.) The Christian funeral is not a celebration of the life of the person who has died, even though we honor and express gratitude for all God’s gifts to that person. While the presider is to keep in mind with delicate sensitivity not only the identity of the deceased and the circumstances of the death, but also the grief of the bereaved (Ordo Exsequiarum 18), the focus of the Christian funeral rite is the saving mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Attentive to the grief of those present, the homilist should dwell on God’s compassionate love and on the Paschal Mystery of the Lord, as proclaimed in the Scripture readings (OCF 27). The liturgical books are clear: there should always be a homily but there should never be a eulogy of any kind. (See Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, popularly known as the General Instruction of the Roman Missal IGRM 382; OCF 27). The Order of Christian Funerals, which celebrates stages in the funeral journey, beginning with the Vigil Service and concluding with the Rite of Committal, makes provision for family members to speak words of remembrance at an appropriate moment. But this is not to be a biography of the person — such information can be printed in a participation aid. Nor should it become a eulogy — a speech in praise of the person who has died. While eulogies are common at the funeral services of many faith traditions, they are not traditional Catholic practice. It is only in recent years that some have insisted on delivering, or have even been urged to deliver, a eulogy during the Funeral Mass. The revised Order of Christian Funerals (1989) allows for someone to “speak in remembrance of the deceased.” Because so many have expressed serious concerns about the content of the words of remembrance spoken in churches, I am asking that these words of remembrance not be spoken during the Funeral Mass. There are other appropriate times and places where these words can and should be spoken. I personally understand how speaking about the life of the deceased is necessary and is part of the healing process. It must be remembered that, according to the Order of Christian Funerals, words spoken “in remembrance of the deceased” are to be spoken in the context of the Church’s celebration of the saving mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and should reflect the deceased person’s faith and participation in the Paschal Mystery. Consequently, on January 2, 2003, I made the following provision regarding the issue of “eulogies”: The homily, which should not be a mere eulogy, is to be delivered only by the celebrant, another priest or deacon. Any messages delivered by family members or friends shall be limited to the visitation or the graveside service and ordinarily shall be limited to a single person. Some parishes have found other appropriate places and times that do not interrupt the flow of the Funeral Liturgy. However, for a number of months now, many priests of this Archdiocese have asked for guidance from me about how to respond to requests for a “eulogy” at a funeral, or how to counsel families about reflections that go beyond a few minutes, or even about the content of an individual’s reflection. I can sympathize with these concerns. We can all recall reflections that have been inspiring, and others that have been disjointed or embarrassing. Some speakers, even with the best intentions, may not be able to complete their reflection because their emotions understandably overcome them. This policy is based on the conviction that the liturgy of the Church, the Order of Christian Funerals, when celebrated as the Church intends will meet the spiritual and emotional needs of mourners. Catechesis on this matter is necessary; it should be well thought-out and planned. It should be gradual, given at appropriate times, and might be accomplished best prior to the experience of death. I am asking pastors, parochial vicars, and all those involved in helping families in preparing the Funeral Liturgy to be pastorally sensitive in explaining how family members and friends can better speak words of remembrance at other appropriate times outside of the Funeral Mass. In light of this need for clarification, I am extending the period of time for the January 2, 2003 decree to be required in the Archdiocese of Newark. Since so many have written to me and have expressed confusion I am happy to allow additional time for our parish staffs to catechize the people of this Archdiocese, extending it until July 1, 2003. The Worship Office of the Archdiocese will be providing further information in the coming weeks to parish staffs that will aid in the implementation of this policy. Again, I regret any confusion this may have caused and I hope this clarifies the reasons why I, and many others, feel this interpretation is necessary at this time.
Related references:
Order of Christian Funerals
VIGIL AND RELATED RITES AND PRAYERS Catechism
of the Catholic Church
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