A few days before my Mum died, she specifically asked for an Irish Catholic funeral – stumping us all (as she isn’t Irish). I’ve found some stuff online, but would be grateful of a more comprehensive breakdown of the differences before we have to arrange the funeral.
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My experiences of Irish Catholic funerals are they are awesome.
Lots of alcohol, singing, dancing.
I know they lay the body out a day before the burial so you can visit/view.
Bit strange but comforting to some.
They tend to last quite a while but Ive aways enjoyed them…if you know what I mean.
I’m from Ireland, and the main custom that comes to my mind is the wake, which still happens here sometimes. This is where the dead person spends the night before the funeral at home, and sometimes there’s a kind of party, for lack of a better word. At my grandmother’s wake, we sat around talking, eating, drinking, playing card games etc. Neighbours/friends could come and pay their respects too. I don’t think the funeral itself can be different, seeing as it has to be the Catholic funeral mass, which is the same everywhere. I must say I found the wake extremely helpful and comforting, and it was nice to know that my grandmother was spending the night in her own home rather than “alone” in a funeral home.
I don’t know about Irish Catholic funerals, but the Catholic funerals I’ve attended always include a lot of prayer for the dead person, which is important in case the dead person is in purgatory. One can also pray for the dead person outside of the funeral services (for example the rosary). Our Lady of Fatima has told us that most people go to purgatory when they die, the second-most go to hell, and very few go straight to heaven. She also revealed that the average length of one’s purgatory is 30 to 40 years.
The rosary is explained here:
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/rosary/how_to.htm
The fifteen promises of Mary to Christians who recite the rosary:
1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against Hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death, they shall participate in the merits of the saints in Paradise.
9. I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
God bless!
Dave
Mostly the character of the prayer vigil.
A Catholic funeral is broken into three parts.
The Vigil. The night before the Requiem Mass, a prayer service is celebrated. Eulogies and/or the rosary may also be said at this time. The Irish culture call this a wake. Others used to be called the Rosary. A reception with food may follow.
The Requiem Mass. A full Mass with Scripture read and explained and Eucharist (Holy Communion) received with extra funeral prayers.
The Burial. A short final prayer service at graveside. A reception at someone’s home with food may follow.
Here is a nice link to some recommended readings for Catholic funerals: http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/OCF/Lectionary.html
Here is a nice link to suggested music for Catholic funerals: http://web.ocp.org/pdf/FuneralSuggestions.pdf
http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Resources/OCF/index.html
With love in Christ.
I agree with the answer directly above me…
My condolences on your mother’s passing.
As a funeral director, and serving in a mainly Irish community I can tell you that an Irish funeral is very basically a Traditional Catholic Funeral with a visitation, a Mass, and burial.
Some families choose to display their heritage more than others. There are European caskets available in the US which are what are used in Ireland still today with Irish designs carved on the outside and Irish linen interior. Prayer cards and thank you cards can be customized with Irish designs such as St. Patrick and Irish Crosses and prayers.
Overall the services are more a celebration of life rather than mourning. This can be as elaborate or as simple as you want them to be. There is really no exact criteria for an Irish funeral and I’m sure no matter what arrangements you choose your mother would be pleased.