Re-Reading Sacrosanctum Concilium: Article 82

Comments

5 responses to “Re-Reading Sacrosanctum Concilium: Article 82”

1. 

   Jim Pauwels

   September 11, 2014

   I don’t really have any objections to the texts. One thing I do see from time to time is the options for baptized children being used for unbaptized children. I suspect this is because the presider wishes to convey the comfort of sure and certain hope to the grieving loved ones, and the texts for an unbaptized child are a good deal less sure in that regard.

   Reply
2. 

   Todd Flowerday

   September 11, 2014

   Two additions to the Lectionary for Funeral Mass for a child are Mark 10:13-16, most frequently used for the Rite of Baptism of an infant outside of Mass. Psalm 148 is an interesting choice for the Psalm at Mass, presumably because of the reference, “old men together with children,” which is rendered more simply in the NABRE, “old and young alike.” (148:12b)

   It is interesting that the framers of the OCF Lectionary consistently offered shorter passages for the funeral of a child compared to the adult offerings. I suppose if a parish school student body were attending a funeral of a classmate, that would make some sense. But it seems that adults would make up the majority of most funeral assemblies. Why the shorter pericopes?

   Reply
3. 

   Matthew Roth

   September 11, 2014

   So… by Rituale Romanum texts, do we mean those for ceremonies which are associated with the funeral & take place in the church and at the cemetery? I mean items like the procession into the church with the body, the departure, etc. Those, as you said, are distinct from other rites.

   I’ll have to look more into this when I have a moment.

   Reply
   1. 

      Todd Flowerday

      September 12, 2014

      @Matthew Roth – comment #3:
      The Order of Christian Funerals collects all of these into a single body, published in a single volume. The rites are all separate and distinct, but they are all related.

      Reply
4. 

   Mike Joncas

   September 12, 2014

   Todd is correct in noting that for the OF The Order of Christian Funerals collects rites from various sources into a volume that is quite pastorally useful.

   My reference was to the pre-Vatican II Roman Ritual (and presumably that used in the EF) that offers the following: 1) an introduction “De Exsequiis” giving practical instructions and exhortations about burying the faithful (e.g., “Clerics should never act as pallbearers for a layman, no matter what his rank or dignity may have been”). 2) “Exsequiarum Ordo” (The Rite of Burial), consisting of a) a procession with psalm-singing from the home of the deceased to the church; b) the singing of the “Subvenite” when the coffin enters the church and the placement of the coffin; c) the Office of the Dead; d) a notice that the Mass on the day of burial is to be celebrated (texts in the Missale Romanum); e) an “Absolutio supra Defunctum” (Absolution over the Deceased) marked by the singing of “Libera me, Domine”; f) a procession to the grace marked by the singing of “In paradisum”; g) a grave-side service. 3) The texts for Vespers, Matins and Lauds of the Office of the Dead. 4) Instructions on funeral rites when the body is not present. 5) The “Ordo Sepeliendi Parvulos” (Order of Burying Children) including a) a station at the home; b) a procession with psalm-singing to the church; c) Psalm 23/24 sung as the body enters the church; d) a procession with psalm-singing to the grave; e) a graveside service; f) a procession back to the church with the singing of the “Canticle of the Three Youths” from Daniel.

   I hope this is helpful in understanding the context in which the Council Fathers decreed arts. 81 and 82.

   Reply