Christian funeral: the function of religious articles
29-11-2023
Culture

Christian funeral: the function of religious articles

Do you know the main religious articles used in the Catholic funeral rite? Both the rosary and the cross are two of the must have.
There are many religious faiths in the world, as well as many funeral celebrations. With today's article, we want to focus on what are the main religious articles that are used in Catholic funerals.

In the Catholic funeral rite, which is divided into three moments (vigil, mass and burial), the rosary is definitely one of the items that is used. The rosary prayer is also a time of gathering for all those who cannot attend the following moment of the funeral rite. During the Catholic rite, it is common to place the Gospel, the Bible or even a cross on the coffin of the deceased. Not less important is the color of Liturgical chasubles. On this occasion, the celebrant may wear a typically black chasuble, a color which is mostly associated with mourning since Roman times and widely used before the reform of the Second Vatican Council. Nowadays, the black chasuble is quite often replaced by the purple one, whose symbolic meaning refers to penance and mourning. The funeral, in fact, represents a time when the faithful are called to pray and do penance for the soul of the deceased.

Death is seen by many as a dramatic event of extreme grief, but in the Christian religion, this also represents a moment of deep connection with one's spiritual dimension. We have seen so far some of the religious articles that are used at this particular time. However, let us remember that readings from the priest and loved ones are also important, as their words keep alive the memory of the beloved one.