The Catholic Funeral Rites:

1. VIGIL SERVICE (WAKE). The Vigil Service is  usually conducted in the funeral home or in the parish church on the eve of the Funeral Mass. Here the faithful keeps watch with the family, remembering the deceased person’s life, praying to
the God of mercy, and finding strength in Christ’s presence. The Vigil is a Scripture or Evening Prayer Service. The rosary, or part of the rosary, may be prayed as well, but not as a replacement of the Vigil. This service is often the first gathering of
the faithful and friends with the family.

2. FUNERAL MASS. The tradition of the Church has always been the celebration of the Mass with the body present. Christians respect and honor the body of the dead, which in Baptism becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. The Funeral Mass
includes the reception of the body, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the Final Commendation and Farewell. Funeral Masses may now be celebrated in the presence of cremated remains.

3. RITE OF COMMITTAL. For the final disposition of the body, it is the ancient Christian custom to bury or entomb the bodies of the dead in a cemetery, which means a “resting place.” The Rite of Committal is the conclusion of the funeral rites and may be celebrated beside the open grave or place of interment. Here the faithful express their hope that, with those who have gone before marked with the sign of faith, the deceased awaits the glory of the resurrection and passes into the welcoming company of those who see God face to face.