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THE VIGIL SERVICE (and Rosary)

The Vigil Service, though usually prayed at the funeral center, can be held at a church, in another suitable public place or in a home, depending on the circumstances and the number of attendees expected. As with the rest of the services of the Funeral Rite, the emphasis of the Vigil Service is the very positive theme of reunion with Christ through resurrection and the promise of spending eternity in the presence of God. However, the Vigil, perhaps more so than the other elements of the Funeral Rite, also stresses the elements of consolation and remembrance. It is at the vigil that friends and family gather to mourn the passing of their loved one, and to remember with fondness the time he or she spent among us. The prayers, psalms and Scriptural

readings usually deal with the frailty of human life and the heartache, sadness and loss all humans experience. Another function of the Vigil is to prepare those present for the Eucharistic Celebration that will come later at the Funeral Mass.

A priest, deacon or even a special minister can officiate at a Vigil Service. Dressed in appropriate vestments, usually a stole (if a clergyman), the priest, deacon or minister first greets those attending as they arrive, then as a group as the ceremony begins.

It is customary in most parishes to pray the Holy Rosary as part of the Vigil Service. The priest may pray the Glorious Mysteries (themes of the Resurrection and the triumph of Jesus over death) or the Sorrowful Mysteries (themes of the Passion and Crucifixion confronting the realities of death). Either way, the priest will tie these themes together into a cohesive teaching to instruct and console.

Some parishes have introduced a change by simply praying a decade of the Rosary instead of the entire five decades of the mysteries. This has been done to accommodate the longer rite of the Vigil Service and the fact that there are so many people in attendance who are not of our faith traditions. If this doesn't agree with you, you need to inform the Rectory ahead of time. Ask and you will not be surprised.

A song or songs may be sung, if the family prefers. Holy water is also often used. The Vigil Service of the Funeral Rite is a Celebration of the Word of God. Readings from the Scriptures and reflection on their meaning is central to the ritual. The Vigil Service has the following basic structure:

The Greeting

If the Rosary is to be recited, it should be done at this point. After the recitation of the Rosary, the following greeting may be used:

May the God of hope give you the fullness of peace, and may the Lord of life be always with you.

Opening Hymn or Recitation of a Psalm

An appropriate song may be sung or a psalm recited.

Opening Prayer

The minister invites all to pray. He may use the following words:

My brothers and sisters, we believe that all the ties of friendship and affection which knit us as one throughout our lives do not unravel with death. Confident that God always remembers the good we have done and forgives our sins, let us pray, asking God to gather N. to himself.

The minister then continues:

Lord our God, the death of our brother (sister) recalls our human condition and the brevity of our lives on earth. But for those who believe in your love death is not the end, nor does it destroy the bonds that you forge in our lives. We share the faith of your Son's disciples and the hope of the children of God. Bring the light of Christ's resurrection to this time of testing and pain as we pray for N. and for those who love him (her), through Christ our Lord.

The Liturgy of the Word

The following reading from Scripture may be used:

"We know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

So we are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him,

whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil."

(Cor. 5: 1-10)

The Psalm is then sung or said.

The Holy Gospel is then proclaimed. It may be the following:

"Jesus told his disciples:

'Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.'" (Lk. 12: 35-40)

A Homily by the priest or deacon.

The minister may now "break open" the Word of God, explaining the profound sense of hope that the Scriptures impart on this occasion.

Prayer of Intercessions

Let us turn to Christ Jesus with confidence and faith in the power of his cross and resurrection:

Risen Lord, pattern of our life forever: Lord, have mercy.

R. Lord, have mercy.

Promise and image of what we shall be: Lord, have mercy.

R. Lord, have mercy.

Son of God who came to de

stroy sin and death: Lord, have mercy.

R. Lord, have mercy.

Word of God who delivered us from the fear of death: Lord, have mercy.

R. Lord, have mercy.

Crucified Lord, forsaken in death, raised in glory: Lord have mercy.

R. Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, gentle Shepherd who brings rest to our souls, give peace to N. for ever. Lord have mercy.

R. Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you bless those who mourn and are in pain. Bless N.'s family and friends who gather around him/her today: Lord have mercy.

R. Lord, have mercy.

The Lord’s Prayer

Then all are invited to pray the Our Father.

TheConcluding Prayer

The minister may use the following Closing prayer:

Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, you willingly gave yourself up to death, so that all might be saved and pass from death to life. We humbly ask you to comfort your servants in their grief and to receive N. into your mercy. You alone are the Holy One, you are mercy itself; by dying you unlocked the gates of life for those who believe in you. Forgive N. his/her sins, and grant him/her a place of happiness, light, and peace in the kingdom of your glory for ever and ever.

R. AMEN

Blessing

Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; let them rest from their labors for their good deeds go with them.

Making the sign of the cross over the forehead of the deceased, the minister may say the following words:

Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord.

R. And let perpetual light shine upon him/her.

May he/she rest in peace.

R. Amen.

May his/her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

Then the minister blesses the people saying:

May the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

R. Amen.

Usually, the Rosary and Vigil Service is well attended. It takes place in the evening at an hour that many people can come and pay their respects to the deceased and to family and friends. Generally speaking, far more people can attend the Rosary and Vigil Service than can attend the actual Funeral Mass and Burial. Keep a guest book for people to sign in. It may be important to you to know who was able to attend the Vigil Service at some point. If you are grieving, you'll remember almost nothing -- it will all seem as a dream. Please try to provide Catholic holy cards with sacred pictures and a short biography with a prayer for the deceased. This expense, more than any other will reap a great reward in prayers and intentions from many of the attendees.

It is customary (if possible) to open the casket at the end of the service and for those present to file past the remains. This is very good for the psyche and the spirit of the participants. It helps focus their prayers, burns a lasting image of the person in their minds when offering their sacrifices and supplications for the benefit of the deceased. Finally, it helps people to make a tangible "closure" to their grieving. Whenever possible, do choose the option of an open casket. There really is a need for us to have a sensate expebrience of our inner feelings.

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