Part Two: The Celebration of the Christian Mysteries › Section Two of Part Two: The Seven Sacraments of the Church ›› CHAPTER 4: Other Liturgical Celebrations ››› Article 2: Christian Funerals

Questions and Answers

1698. What is the ultimate goal of the sacraments? (CCC 1680) The ultimate goal of all the sacraments is to prepare the Christian for a good death that leads him to eternal life.
1699. What is the Christians’ last Passover? (CCC 1681) The Christian’s last Passover is his dying in God’s grace which leads him to eternal glory.
1700. When does the sacramental life of the faithful end? (CCC 1682) The sacramental life of the faithful ends at death.
1701. When does the Church offer the faithful departed to the mercy of God? (CCC 1683) The Church offers the faithful departed to the mercy of God in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the funeral Mass.
1702. What is the aim of the Christian funeral? (CCC 1684) The aim of the Christian funeral is:
1. to constitute a communion in prayer with the deceased
2. to have the faithful participate in that communion
3. to proclaim eternal life to the faithful.
1703. How many forms for the celebration of funerals are there in the Roman Liturgy? (CCC 1686) In the Roman Liturgy there are three forms for the celebration of funerals.
These three forms correspond to the three places in which funerals are conducted (home, church, cemetery).
1704. What are the four principal elements in the celebration of funerals? (CCC 1687-1690) The four principal elements in the celebration of funerals are:
1. the liturgical greeting of the faithful
2. the Liturgy of the Word
3. the Eucharistic Sacrifice
4. the commendation of the faithful departed to God.
1705. How is the farewell to the deceased expressed in the Byzantine tradition? (CCC 1690) The farewell to the deceased is expressed in the Byzantine tradition by the kiss of farewell to the deceased.