Funeral Mass

BEFORE MASS:

1. Arrive at least 15 minutes before Mass.
2. If the sacristan is not present, on the credence table place the following: corporal, 2 chalices, 2 purificators, water cruet, water & water basin, 1 paten, ciborium, and sacramentary - on the table by the baptismal font, place the following: paten with bread and flagon of wine - insert the tabernacle key in the tabernacle.
3. Place censor stand by the credence table.
4. Light charcoal 15 minutes before Mass.
5. Light the Easter and altar candles 5 minutes before Mass.
6. Pray with other ministers of the Mass.

PROCESSION:

1. Assemble by the casket
2. Candle bearer will hold funeral book for priest.
3. The censer will be taken by the priest, who will incense the casket.
4. After prayers are finished and the casket is incensed, process to the altar.
5. Censer bearer leads, going to the right of the baptismal font - walk slowly.
6. Easter candle bearer follows--keep 3 pews distance behind the censer bearer.
7. Candle bearers follow, one to the left, and the other to the right of the baptismal font-walk side by side-keep 3 pews distance behind the Easter candle bearer. One candle bearer will carry the funeral book.
8. At the steps of the altar, the censer bearer bows and proceeds to the left and back of the altar.
9. The Easter candle bearer bows at the steps of the altar and places the Easter candle on its stand by the casket. The Easter candle bearer proceeds to his/her chair.
10. At the steps before the altar, the candle bearers bow. The candle bearer with the funeral book will place the funeral book on the credence table. The candle bearers proceed to their chairs.
11. The priest will go up the altar and take the censer from the censer bearer and incense the altar.
12. After receiving the censer, the incense bearer will place the censer on its stand and will proceed to his/her chair.
13. *Easter candle bearer, as soon as the censer bearer comes down from the altar, takes the book from the credence table to the priest.

PENITENTIAL RITE:

1. *When the priest says, "For you alone are the holy one…" the Easter candle bearer takes the sacramentary from the credence table, walks behind the priest, opens the sacramentary to the white ribbon (or ribbon of the season) and holds the open sacramentary for the priest. (If the Gloria is not said, take the sacramentary after the last "LORD HAVE MERCY.")
   1. *If under 5 feet tall, stand in front of the priest.
   2. *If 5 feet or taller, stand to the priest's left side.
2. *When the priest finishes, the Easter candle bearer takes the sacramentary to the credence table.

SERMON:

1. Censer bearer will light a new charcoal.

OFFERATORY:

1. Candle bearers stand on each side of the priest-one will go behind the priest to stand on the priest's left.
2. *The Easter candle bearer will take the sacramentary and corporal from the credence table and place the corporal on the center of the altar - place the sacramentary in the center and on the edge of the altar closest to the tabernacle--open to the first ribbon.
3. The candle bearer who receives the bread will go to the side of the altar and wait until the priest or deacon takes the bread. Then go to the credence table, pick up one (1) chalice, one (1) purificator and the water cruet. And wait for the other candle bearer.
4. The candle bearer who receives the flagon of wine will go to the credence table. And wait for the other candle bearer.
5. One candle bearer will take the flagon of wine and one candle bearer will take one (1) chalice and one (1) purificator and the water cruet to the priest.
6. The censer bearer will give the censer to the priest, who will incense the altar. After receiving the censer, the censer bearer will place the censer on its stand and will proceed to his/her chair.
7. The candle bearers will take the water, water basin and towel to the priest.

SIGN OF PEACE:

1. Candle bearers take 1 chalice and 1 purificators and one (1) paten from the credence table and place on the side of the altar.

COMMUNION:

1. To receive communion, the servers will follow the end of the first row of parishioners.
2. During distribution of body and blood:
   1. *Easter candle bearer takes the ciborium and place the ciborium on side of the altar.
   2. *Easter candle bearer takes the book from altar and place the sacramentary on the credence table.
   3. Servers will kneel on floor in front of their chairs.
3. After distribution of body and blood:
   1. Candle bearers take the patens and ciborium (if on the altar) from the altar and place on the credence table-do not "stack" patens.
   2. +Cross bearer will carefully fold the corporal on the altar and place the corporal on the credence table. (HOLD THE CORPORAL LEVEL-SO THE BODY OF CHRIST DOES NOT FALL TO THE FLOOR.)

CLOSING PRAYER & FINAL BLESSING:

1. *When the priest says, "Let us pray," the Easter candle bearer takes the sacramentary from the credence table to the priest-open to the ribbon of the season.
2. *When the priest finishes, the Easter candle bearer takes the sacramentary to the credence table.

PRAYERS AND INCENSING AT THE CASKET:

1. The censer bearer and a candle bearer with the funeral book will stand near the priest.
2. Candle bearer will hold the funeral book while the priest reads.
3. Censer bearer will give the censer to the priest for incensing.

PROCESSION: When the priest reverences the altar:

1. Easter candle bearer takes the Easter candle, goes short of the first pew, and turns around to face the altar.
2. Candle bearers stand half way between the Easter candle bearer and the foot of the altar. Both turn and face the altar. A candle bearer will take the funeral book.
3. Censer bearer will take the censer and stand at the foot of the altar. When the priest comes down from the altar, the censer bearer goes to the first pew and turns to face the altar.
4. When the priest genuflects, all 4 servers bow.
5. Censer bearer leads the procession-walk slowly.
6. Easter candle bearer follows-keeping 3 pews behind the censer bearer.
7. The candle bearers follow-walk side by side-keep 3 pews distance behind the Easter candle bearer.
8. All servers will go outside to the hearse with the priest.

AFTER MASS:

1. Candle bearers extinguish candles.
2. Server(s) will go with priest to the cemetery (if the priest desires).
3. If the sacristan is not present, take the following from the credence table to the sacristy: corporal, 2 chalices, 2 purificators, water cruet, water & water basin, patens, ciborium, book, tabernacle key, flagon, censer stand.

NOTES:

1. Hands should be folded and held above the waist, unless holding something.
2. Kneel on the floor in front of your chair when the congregation kneels. Kneel, sit and stand with the congregation.
3. If three (3) servers are present:
   1. Censer bearer has the additional duties of the Easter Candle bearer.
      (Marked by * above)
   2. A candle bearer will carry the Easter Candle during the processions.
4. If two (2) servers are present:
   1. One server has duties of censer bearer and candle bearer.
   2. One server has duties of Easter candle bearer and candle bearer.