Readings for the Funerals of Children
Funerals for Children
The numbering for the Readings is taken from the Order of Christian Funerals. The corresponding number from the Lectionary for Mass is noted LM . The translation of the Readings is taken from the Lectionary for Mass.
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Reading from the Old Testament
Is 25 He will destroy death forever
Lam 3 It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord
1 [LM1017.1/1023.1] Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9 [For a Baptized Child and a Child who died before Baptism]
He will destroy death forever.
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”
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2 [LM 1017.2/1023.2] Lamentations 3:17-26 [For a Baptized Child and a Child who died before Baptism]
It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord.
A reading from the Book of Lamentations
My soul is deprived of peace,
I have forgotten what happiness is;
I tell myself my future is lost,
all that I hoped for from the LORD.
The thought of my homeless poverty
is wormwood and gall;
Remembering it over and over
leaves my soul downcast within me.
But I will call this to mind,
as my reason to have hope:
The favors of the LORD are not exhausted,
his mercies are not spent;
They are renewed each morning,
so great is his faithfulness.
My portion is the LORD, says my soul;
therefore will I hope in him.
Good is the LORD to one who waits for him,
to the soul that seeks him;
It is good to hope in silence
for the saving help of the LORD.
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The translation of the Psalms is from The Grail, as found in The Order of Christian Funerals.
Ps 23
Ps 25
Ps 42 and 43
Ps 148
1 [LM 1019.1] Psalm 23 [For a Baptized Child]
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me,
to revive my drooping spirit.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me along the right path;
he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness
no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff;
with these you give me comfort.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You have prepared a banquet for me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
for ever and ever.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
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2 [LM 1019.2] Psalm 25 [For a Baptized Child]
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.Lord, make me know your ways.
Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Remember your mercy, Lord,
and the love you have shown from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth.
In your love remember me.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Preserve my life and rescue me.
Do not disappoint me, you are my refuge.
May innocence and uprightness protect me,
for my hope is in you, O Lord.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
[LM 1024] Psalm 25 [For a Child who died before Baptism]
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
or:
R. No one who waits for you, O Lord, will ever be put to shame.
Lord, make me know your ways.
Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
or:
R. No one who waits for you, O Lord, will ever be put to shame.
Remember your mercy, Lord,
and the love you have shown from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth.
In your love remember me.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
or:
R. No one who waits for you, O Lord, will ever be put to shame.
Preserve my life and rescue me.
Do not disappoint me, you are my refuge.
May innocence and uprightness protect me,
for my hope is in you, O Lord.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
or:
R. No one who waits for you, O Lord, will ever be put to shame.
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3 [LM 1019.3] Psalm 42 [For a Baptized child]
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God: when shall I see him face to face?
Like the deer that yearns
for running streams,
so my soul is yearning
for you, my God.
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God: when shall I see him face to face?
My soul is thirsting for God,
the God of my life;
when can I enter and see
the face of God?
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God: when shall I see him face to face?
These things will I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I would lead the rejoicing crowd
into the house of God,
amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving,
the throng wild with joy.
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God: when shall I see him face to face?
O send forth your light and your truth;
let these be my guide.
Let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God: when shall I see him face to face?
And I will come to your altar, O God,
the God of my joy.
My redeemer, I will thank you on the harp,
O God, my God.
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God: when shall I see him face to face?
Why are you cast down, my soul,
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still,
my savior and my God.
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God: when shall I see him face to face?
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4 [LM 1019.4] Psalm 148 [For a Baptized Child]
R. Let all praise the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his host.
R. Let all praise the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All earth’s kings and peoples,
earth’s princes and rulers;
young men and women,
old men together with children.
R. Let all praise the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them praise the name of the Lord
for he alone is exalted.
The splendor of his name
reaches beyond heaven and earth.
R. Let all praise the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He exalts the strength of his people.
He is the praise of all his saints,
of the sons of Israel,
of the people to whom he comes close.
R. Let all praise the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Reading from the New Testament
Rom 6 We too might live in newness of life
Rom 14 Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s
1 Cor 15 So too in Christ shall all be brought to life
Eph 1 He chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy
1 Thes 4 Thus we shall always be with the Lord
Rev 7 God will wipe every tear from their eyes
Rev 21 There shall be no more death
1 [LM 1020.1] Romans 6:3-4, 8-9 [For a Baptized Child]
We too might live in newness of life.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans
Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might live in newness of life.
If, then, we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with him.
We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;
death no longer has power over him.
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2 [LM 1020.2] Romans 14:7-9 [For a Baptized Child]
Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans
Brothers and sisters:
No one lives for oneself,
and no one dies for oneself.
For if we live, we live for the Lord,
and if we die, we die for the Lord;
so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
For this is why Christ died and came to life,
that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
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3 [LM 1020.3]span class="citazione">1 Corinthians 15:20-23 [For a Baptized Child]
So too in Christ shall all be brought to life.
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
Brothers and sisters:
Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since death came through a man,
the resurrection of the dead came also through a man.
For just as in Adam all die,
so too in Christ shall all be brought to life,
but each one in proper order:
Christ the firstfruits;
then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ.
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4 [LM 1020.4] Ephesians 1:3-5
He chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians
Brothers and sisters:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will.
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5 [LM 1020.5] 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, 18
Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,
about those who have fallen asleep,
so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,
so too will God, through Jesus,
bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
Therefore, console one another with these words.
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6 [LM 1018.1] Revelation 7:9-10, 15-17
God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
A reading from the Book of Revelation
I, John, had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
They cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb.”
“For this reason they stand before God’s throne
and worship him day and night in his temple.
The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.
They will not hunger or thirst anymore,
nor will the sun or any heat strike them.
For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne
will shepherd them
and lead them to springs of life-giving water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
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7 [LM 1018.2] Revelation 21:1a, 3-5a
There shall be no more death.
A reading from the Book of Revelation
I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.
He will dwell with them and they will be his people
and God himself will always be with them as their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,
for the old order has passed away.”
The one who sat on the throne said,
“Behold, I make all things new.”
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Alleluia Verse and Verse before the Gospel
1 [LM 1021.1] See Matthew 11:25 [For a Baptized Child]
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to the childlike the mysteries of the Kingdom.
2 [LM 1021.2] John 6:39 [For a Baptized Child]
that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me,
and That I should raise it up on the last day.
3/1 [LM 1021.3/1025.1] 2 Corinthians 1:3b-42 [For a Baptized Child or a Child who died before Baptism]
Blessed be the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement,,
who encourages us in our every affliction.
3 Revelation 1:5a, 6b [For a Child who died before Baptism]
Jesus Christ is the firstborn from the dead;
glory and kingship be his forever and ever. Amen.
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Mt 11 Come to me and I will give you rest
Mk 10 The Kingdom of heaven belongs to little children
Mk 15 Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last
Jn 6 This is the will of my Father, that I should lose nothing of what he gave me
Jn 6 Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and I will raise them on the last day
Jn 11 If you believe, you will see the gloryof God
Jn 19 Behold your mother
1 [LM 1022.1/1026.1] Matthew 11:25-30 [For a Baptized Child and a Child who died before Baptism]
Come to me and I will give you rest.
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
At that time Jesus answered:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
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2 [LM 1022.2] Mark 10:13-16 [For a Baptized Child]
The Kingdom of heaven belongs to little children.
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
People were bringing children to him that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
“Let the children come to me; do not prevent them,
for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”
Then he embraced the children and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.
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2 [LM 1026.2] Mark 15:33-46 [For a Child who died before Baptism]
Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
At noon darkness came over the whole land
until three in the afternoon.
And at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?
which is translated,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Some of the bystanders who heard it said,
“Look, he is calling Elijah.”
One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed,
and gave it to him to drink, saying,
“Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.”
Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.
The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.
When the centurion who stood facing him
saw how he breathed his last he said,
“Truly this man was the Son of God!”
There were also women looking on from a distance.
Among them were Mary Magdalene,
Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome.
These women had followed him when he was in Galilee
and ministered to him.
There were also many other women
who had come up with him to Jerusalem.
When it was already evening,
since it was the day of preparation,
the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea,
a distinguished member of the council,
who was himself awaiting the kingdom of God,
came and courageously went to Pilate
and asked for the body of Jesus.
Pilate was amazed that he was already dead.
He summoned the centurion
and asked him if Jesus had already died.
And when he learned of it from the centurion,
he gave the body to Joseph.
Having bought a linen cloth, he took him down,
wrapped him in the linen cloth,
and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock.
Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.
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3 [LM 1022.3] John 6:37-40 or 6:37-39 [For a Baptized Child]
This is the will of my Father, that I should lose nothing of what he gave me.
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Jesus said to the crowds:
“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day.”
Or: [Short Form]
Jesus said to the crowds:
“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
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4 [LM 1022.4] John 6:51-58 [For a Child who had already received the Eucharist]
Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and I will raise them on the last day.
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Jesus said to the crowds:
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give is my Flesh
for the life of the world.”
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
“How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?”
Jesus said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood,
you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day.
For my Flesh is true food,
and my Blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood
remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me
will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
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5 [LM 1022.5] John 11:32-38, 40 [For a Baptized Child]
If you believe, you will see the gloryof God.
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
When Mary [the sister of Lazarus]
came to where Jesus was and saw him,
she fell at his feet and said to him,
“Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.”
When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping,
he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said,
“Where have you laid him?”
They said to him, “Sir, come and see.”
And Jesus wept.
So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.”
But some of them said,
“Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man
have done something so that this man would not have died?”
So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb.
It was a cave, and a stone lay across it.
Jesus said to her,
“Did I not tell you that if you believe
you will see the glory of God?”
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6/3 [LM 1022.6/1026.3] John 19:25-30 [For a Baptized Child and a Child who died before Baptism]
Behold your mother
+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother
and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,
and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved,
he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple,
“Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished,
in order that the scripture might be fulfilled,
Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine.
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop
and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
“It is finished.”
And bowing his head, he handed over the Spirit.