Eulogy? No, Homily

 

HOMILY? OR EULOGY?

Funeral considerations 

 
A homily at a funeral is not meant to be a eulogy, or a panegyric in honor of the deceased. Many of us have been to funerals where this kind of discourse has not merely descended to sentimentality or triviality, but risen to the heights  of a solemn proclamation of beatification, if not instant canonization. On the other hand, if would be difficult, if not callous, to exclude any reference  to the deceased from the homily. This is why pastoral common sense would modify a total ban of any comment on the life or character of the Christian soul we are commending to the merciful Lord. But most of the content and the main emphasis of the homily should consist of drawing out the revealed truths from the chosen readings, this is, proclaiming the consoling, but challenging, facts of life and death, resurrection, judgment, purgatory and our hope of eternal life in heaven. This is a great opportunity for evangelizing because non-Christians apparently find the Catholic rites to be the most interesting and consoling of any funerals they attend. Here is one of the moments in the modern world when people are forced to face reality. Without being heavy handed, we should seize such moments and use them for the glory of the Risen Lord and the salvation of souls.  
 
The Order of Christian Funerals, US Rite, no. 197 states that “A member or friend of the family may speak in remembrance of the deceased.”  Note that one person may speak, not several…This may seem to be the right time for such words, as long as they are brief, but it is not appropriate to intrude a eulogy into the Rite of Final Commendation and Farewell celebrated at the casket. It is preferable to postpone any kind of eulogy to the Rite of Christian Burial just before the prayer of committal.