Hymns Appropriate For Funeral Mass?
  • ossian1898ossian1898
    Posts: 142
    Good evening, all.

    We're getting a new pastor and assistant priest at the Novus Ordo parish I play/cantor at on Saturdays. Tomorrow I have to play a funeral there and I rarely, if ever, sing hymns at funeral masses. I am really familiar with the EF Requiem Mass and usually I sing the propers at the OF ones as well...but I have no idea what to expect with the new pastor. He may ask for...hymns...

    So I'm looking for some advice, what are some appropriate hymns you might play? Lead Kindly Light and the ghastly "On Eagles Wings" (which I refuse to play) are two that come to mind. Perhaps Faith of Our Fathers?
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,229
    "O God, our Help in Ages Past"
  • G
    Posts: 1,401
    "Remember Those, O Lord"

    And I can't remember the name, off-hand, but I was trying to establish the Introit Hymn for All Souls from Christopher Tietze's book as the "default" entrance hymn at our parish.

    Any good hymnization of appropriate psalms (The King of Love My Shepherd Is for the 23rd Psalm, for instance)

    Save the Liturgy, Save the World!
  • GavinGavin
    Posts: 2,799
    "Jesus, Word Incarnate" I think is one in the WLP hymnal. There's a superb one in the Hymnal 1982 (yes, protestants have more hymns for the Holy Souls than Catholics) "Christ the Victorious" which may be public domain. "Out of the Deep" to the tune WEBB is also appropriate.
  • Steve CollinsSteve Collins
    Posts: 1,022
    Many Vets will need "Eternal Father, Strong to Save". If you have a copy of the Armed Forces Service Book and Hymnal (which you should! It has a very good Catholic selection.) you will find extra verses for many special occasions and military units - something like 24 all together.

    "Hail Queen of Heaven" (tune "Stella") has a verse that mentions the dead. So it would be good especially in parishes of Marian patronage.
  • Erik P
    Posts: 152
    "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" --- Duke Street
    "I Heard the Voice of Jesus say" ---- Kingsfold
    "The Living God My Shepherd is" ---- Brother James Air
    "Lord of All Hopefulness" ---- Slane
    "Shepherd of Souls" St Agnes
  • ossian1898ossian1898
    Posts: 142
    Well this is what I played:

    Heart of Jesus (stuttgart)
    Panis Angelicus (but in English...)
    Just a Closer Walk with Thee (i know i know...)

    I came prepared to sing the propers, as normal, but got shot down right away.

    I am very depressed about what is happening. The parish will now most likely go from having mostly gregorian propers on Saturday evenings (for the last 2 years) to the normal OF fare with contemporary music. I believe this is the case especially after having met the new pastor and deacon.

    Please pray if you are willing.
  • noel jones, aagonoel jones, aago
    Posts: 6,611
    Two years of work deserves recognition by the new guy for what has been done and what the people come to Mass expecting.
  • eft94530eft94530
    Posts: 1,577
    set mood = snarky + rhetorical;

    So ...
    how many mourners sang the selections?
    what is the value of picking any in preference to the Propers?
    how many sang the Ordinary (which is their obligation to sing)?

    At least you were not given a CD with La Bamba.
  • JeanL
    Posts: 21
    There's always in non Lenten times, "The Strife is O'er" Italian Hymn
  • ossian1898ossian1898
    Posts: 142
    How many sang the hymns? I think I heard one or two, everyone else was silent and didn't even pick up the missalettes. That is exactly the point, people who are generally crying do not want to sing at mass. The ordinary? The same. The pastor barely sang it too, even though we used the well known "Mass of Paul VI".
  • Andrew Coyne
    Posts: 42
    Two other good Hymns are "Spirit Seeking Light and Beauty" and "Jerusalem the Golden"
  • noel jones, aagonoel jones, aago
    Posts: 6,611
    People at Catholic funerals, even Catholics, tend to stand there mute...

    One reason is that they almost never have anything in their hands to lead them through the liturgy, especially parishes that use sunday-oriented pulp.
  • Robsc
    Posts: 20
    I like, Jerusalam My Happy Home, to the tune, Land of Rest, for funerals.
    Rob
Add a Comment