Funeral Rites As Performed In The Christian Tradition

Death is part of being human. Death is part of the wheel of life. In each passing, there are those who pass away and there are those who grieve their loss. The role of the religion for those who are left behind is to perform a rite of relinquishing. This rite of letting go is what is known as the funeral.

Funerals around the world are governed by several traditions, rites and rituals. Funeral offers an opportunity to the family of the deceased person to pray for him and come to terms with their loss and sorrow.

Christian funerals follow the rules of the Church. However, given the fact that there are more than 200 denominations of Christian communities, the traditions can change according to the particular affiliation of the family.

The very first custom in a Christian funeral that is conducted before the actual ceremony relates to assembling around the deceased for a night and reciting prayers for the departed soul. This significant tradition is called wake. According to present-day standards, this is the time when relatives and close friends can pay their last respects to the deceased person. The body is either laid at the residence or at Church and the time of paying visit is fixed according to prescribed norms. In earlier times, the deceased was sought to be absolved of his sins of his earthly existence by carrying out the process of absolution after wake. This included placing a cross on the departed’s body and offertory in the casket, where gifts offered were kept.

Then comes the main ceremony, which begins with the transportation of the deceased’s body to the Church in a hearse and is followed by recitation of hymns and prayers from the Holy Bible. This is then followed by the clergy asking one of the close friends or family to read out a eulogy. Some communities have chiming of the bells as an integral part of the proceedings that signifies the end of ceremony. Following the funeral proceedings, the casket is carried to the burial site where a burial service is held before the act of burial.

Finally, the funeral’s completion is marked by a mourners’ lunch organised for the family members and those present at the funeral service. The prime aim of this custom is to share the grief of the aggrieved family and help them deal with the irreparable loss.

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