Office of Worship
Funeral Planning Home
Sacred music Resources for a Catholic Funeral
Music for funerals is rich in tradition, beauty, and simplicity. Sacred texts and sounds should hold pride of place. While favorite popular songs may have emotional meaning to the deceased and the family, this type of music is often not appropriate for Mass, and can be used at another more suitable time, such as the wake.
The Roman Missal, Order of Christian Funerals, and other liturgical books provide specific sung prayers for funerals. While hymns are an option, care should be taken that they do not replace these beautiful prayers for the dead.
The following list of options is not exhaustive, but is meant to be provide resources that may be helpful in selecting funeral music.
Mass Propers
Mass propers include the Entrance Antiphon (also called the Introit), Offertory Antiphon, and Communion Antiphon.
Entrance
Requiem Aeternam - choral arrangements
Requiem Aeternam - Gregorian chant
If the Entrance Antiphon is not sung, a suitable hymn may take its place. See the list below for suggestions.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 23 (additional settings may be found for the Fourth Sunday of Lent - Year A)
Psalm 63 (additional settings may be found for the Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time - Year C)
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I am the living bread from Heaven says the Lord. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.
I am the Resurrection and the Life, says the Lord. Whoever believes in Me will not die forever.
Offertory
If the Offertory Antiphon is not sung, a suitable hymn may take its place. See the list below for suggestions.
Communion
Latin Communion Antiphon with Accompaniment - Lux Aeterna
In place of or in addition to the Communion Antiphon, a suitable hymn may be sung. See the list below for suggestions.
Song of Farewell
Subvenite Sancti Dei - Gregorian chant
Procession to the Place of Committal
Optionally sung as a recessional or burial procession.
Additional Music Options
Choral Music
Hymns
Abide with Me
Be Still My Soul
Be Thou My Vision
The Call
Christ Be Beside Me
Come My Way, My Truth, My Life
The Day of Resurrection
For All the Saints
Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
How Firm a Foundation
How Great Thou Art
I am the Resurrection
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
I Know that my Redeemer Lives
Jerusalem, My Happy Home
Jesus, Lead the Way
The King of Love my Shepherd Is
Lord Jesus Christ, O Glorious King
Lord Jesus, Think on Me
Lord of All Hopefulness
Love Divine All Loves Excelling
My Shepherd will Supply my Need
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
O God, You Search Me
On this Day, O Beautiful Mother
Panis Angelicus
Sing with All the Saints in Glory
Soul of my Savior
You Satisfy the Hungry Heart
Agnus Dei (various settings)
Ave Maria (Arcadelt, Grieg, chant, various)
Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart)
Give Rest O Christ (anonymous)
God Be in My Head (Davies)
God So Loved the World (Stainer)
Hope Thou in God (Mendelssohn)
How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place (Brahms)
In Paradisum (chant, Faure, various)
My Shepherd will Supply my Need (arr. Thomson)
Nunc Dimittis (various)
Sicut Cervus (Palestrina)
The Call (Vaughan Williams)
The Lord Is My Shepherd (various)
Thou Knowest, Lord, the Secrets (Purcell)
Seasonal & Devotional
All Creatures of Our God and King (Easter)
Ave Maria (Schubert, Bach/Gounod, etc.)
Comfort, Comfort, O My People (Advent)
Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley (Lent)
Jesus Remember Me (Lent)
Lord, You Have the Words — Psalm 19
O Sun of Justice (Lent)
Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Christmas)
Panis Angelicus (Franck)
Pie Jesu (Fauré: Requiem Opus 48)
Remember Your Love (Lent)
The Strife is O’er (Easter)
Wait For the Lord (Advent)
When the King Shall Come Again (Advent)
“May the Choirs of Angels escort you into Paradise...”