Since sung music within the funeral rites is “sung prayer,” live music and singing of Christian hymns and songs are encouraged. A parish cantor/soloist and/or instrumentalist can be assigned to the funeral liturgy if the family so desires. There is an additional charge.
The assigned cantor/soloist or instrumentalist will contact the designated family member to help in the selection of Christian hymns and songs for your loved one’s funeral. Please note that recorded music, popular songs and other types of secular music are not permitted during the funeral rites in the church (these are best done at the visitation at the mortuary the day or evening before the funeral).
Musicians other than the parish’s designated musicians generally are not allowed to serve as music ministers during funeral liturgies in the church, although there are rare exceptions (e.g., when a close family member or friend is a trained musician who works as a music minister in another Catholic parish). Please discuss this possibility with the parish’s assigned cantor/soloist or instrumentalist.
The list below includes some appropriate and commonly-selected hymns and songs for funerals:
Entrance
Amazing Grace (Music Source: New Britain) - click here to listen
Be Not Afraid (Dufford) - click here to listen
Here I Am Lord (Schutte) - click here to listen
How Great Thou Art (Hine) - click here to listen
O Lord, I Am Not Worthy (Music Source: Non Dignus) - click here to listen
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. - click here to listen
Psalm 27: The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Psalm 42: Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God.
Psalm 103: The Lord is kind and merciful.
Presentation of the Gifts
Amazing Grace (Music Source: New Britain) - click here to listen
Because the Lord is My Shepherd (Walker) - click here to listen
Eye Has Not Seen (Haugen)
Only a Shadow (Landry) - click here to listen
Prayer of St. Francis (Temple) - click here to listen
Communion
I Am the Bread of Life (Toolan) - click here to listen
Panis Angelicus (Franck) - classical
Panis Angelicus/ Holy and Living Bread (Sacris Solemnis) - click here to listen
Psalm 42: As the Deer Longs (O Waly Waly)
Psalm 42: As the Deer Longs (Hurd) - click here to listen
Shelter Me, O God (Hurd) - click here to listen
Shepherd Me, O God (Haugen) - click here to listen
Second Communion
Ave Maria (Schubert) - classical
Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod) - classical
Ave Maria/ Hail Mary (chant)
Hear My Prayer (Moses Hogan) - American spiritual hymn tune
May You Walk With Christ Beside You (Stephen Dean)
Song of Farewell
Song of Farewell (Old Hundredth) - click here to listen
May Angels Lead You/In Paradisum (chant) - click here to listen
May the Angels Lead You Into Paradise (Howard Hughes)
Recessional
On Eagle’s Wings (Joncas) - click here to listen
How Great Thou Art (Hine) - click here to listen
I Know that my Redeemer Lives (Soper) - click here to listen
Precious Lord, Take My Hand (Allen/Ringwald) - American spiritual hymn tune