Marian music at funeral rites
  • ChurchMusician
    Posts: 17
    After a recent funeral a parishioner approached me to inform me that “there should always be Marian music at a Catholic funeral.” Is there anything in the rubrics or other church documents regarding music to support this statement? I should note that there had been no Marian music at this funeral, although the traditional expectation in the parish is that the Ave Maria by Schubert will be sung by a soprano soloist after Communion. I explained to this individual that we follow church guidelines from the OCF and so we try to involve the family of the deceased in planning the liturgy; and that in this case the family chose the hymns and made the choice for silence after Communion, which is a valid option.
    Thanked by 2tomjaw CHGiffen
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,499
    Um, in that specific context, a generous pastoral response might be "I am sorry for your loss, and appreciate for your feedback."
    Thanked by 4Abbysmum CHGiffen probe monasteryliturgist
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,645
    Is there anything in the rubrics or other church documents ...?
    No.
    The Church does have official music in Latin for a funeral. You (or the parishioner) can, in a sense, see the the antiphons in the Missal as the refrains translated into English.
    Schubert's Ave Maria may be popular in your area, in 87 years I have never heard it in church, funeral or otherwise (except in films and broadcasts).
  • oldhymnsoldhymns
    Posts: 265
    In the New England area, it seems that the Schubert Ave Maria is used at every wedding and funeral I attend (and also some Masses). It gets to be very boring, but many people think that "Ave Maria" and the Schubert melody are one in the same. Years ago the Schubert Ave Maria was on the so-called Black List published by the St. Gregory Society and not because it was bad music. The reason for its placement on the Black List was because it was considered "more suited to the concert halls rather than liturgical services." I wish wedding and funeral soloists would learn other versions of the Ave Maria; there certainly are many good ones.
    Thanked by 1Don9of11
  • Don9of11Don9of11
    Posts: 805
    I have Marian hymns selected for my funeral that I would like to have sung at the entrance or as I am brought in.
    Mother of Mercy, Day by Day or Mother of Christ
    Mother Dear, Oh Pray for Me as the Entrance

    There are a number of Marian hymns that are much more appropriate for funerals than say "Hail Mary Gentle Woman" or "Ave Maria" by Schubert. As oldhymns points out, there a some really nice Ave Maria's other than Schubert's. A good organist should have a nice repertoire of Marian hymns that family members could choose from. Especially, if the deceased was known to pray with a Rosary group before Mass or other Marian devotion.

    Years ago, the organist at my parish of St. Mary's provided a list of hymns for weddings along with a cassette tape. The same could be done today for weddings and funerals, although I would provide something other than a cassette tape. (ex: flash drives, CDs, or posted on the parish website)
    Thanked by 1oldhymns
  • monasteryliturgistmonasteryliturgist
    Posts: 520
    "Languentibus in Purgatorio" is a great marian chant we have sometimes employed
    Thanked by 1OMagnumMysterium
  • AbbysmumAbbysmum
    Posts: 134
    Years ago, the organist at my parish of St. Mary's provided a list of hymns for weddings along with a cassette tape. The same could be done today for weddings and funerals, although I would provide something other than a cassette tape. (ex: flash drives, CDs, or posted on the parish website)


    I have YouTube playlists that I can share for this purpose
  • oldhymnsoldhymns
    Posts: 265
    Mother of Christ is a very appropriate hymn for a funeral. The closing lines especially are appropriate as one prepares to enter eternal life: "When the voyage is o'er, Oh, stand on the shore, and show Him at last to me." A few year ago I had recommended this hymn for a funeral in a neighboring parish. A deacon was present who was in his last year of seminary. He asked me for the music for the hymn because he wanted to use it at his ordination Mass--which he did.
  • FSSPmusic
    Posts: 446
    it was considered "more suited to the concert halls rather than liturgical services."
    For readers who don't know the history of the Schubert Ave Maria, it is essentially secular music:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ave_Maria_(Schubert)

    I don't know if it's true for the novus ordo, but I was recently reminded on this forum that the Marian antiphon is omitted in the traditional Office for the Dead even after Compline, so one could make the opposite case, namely that the mind of the Church is against Marian music at the Office and Masses for the dead, but I won't go there. "Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae" seems fitting for the occasion, as does "mortis in examine" in the Ave verum corpus, and I don't think the pious sentiment is misguided. If there is a non-liturgical vigil/wake service, that might be the most suitable place for a solo Ave Maria, especially in conjunction with recitation of the Rosary.
Add a Comment