Music at a funeral Mass (Order of Christian Funerals)
1. O.C.F., 30: “Music is integral to the Funeral rites. It allows the
community to express convictions and feelings that word alone may fail
to convey. It has the power to console and uplift the mourners and to
strengthen the unity of the assembly in faith and love. The texts of the
songs chosen for a particular celebration should express the paschal
mystery of the Lord's suffering, death, and triumph over death and
should be related to the readings from Scripture.”
2. O.C.F., 31: “Rather than adopting popular secular songs which are
inappropriate to a liturgical setting, we should seek out good liturgical
music on a paschal theme which can “support, console, and uplift
participants and help to create in them a spirit of hope in Christ's victory
over death and in the Christian's share in that victory."