If you have been invited to a Catholic funeral, you may not be sure whether you want to attend or not if you have never been to one before. You may not be sure what to expect and that can keep you from attending. Catholic funerals can really help the healing process after a loss, however, so you do want to consider attending. To help you know what you can expect, there are some things that directors of funeral homes in Hamilton, OH want you to remember.

There are three distinct parts to the Catholic funeral. The first part is the vigil, or the wake, where people will recite the rosary. It takes place at the funeral home, offering everyone a chance to say goodbye to the person they lost. The casket is usually there, and it can be open or closed. After the vigil service, there is the funeral mass. It will take place in the same church where the person used to take the sacraments. A procession will bring in the casket, which the priest will bless, and there will be blessings and the offering of bread and wine. After the recessional, there will be the graveside committal, where the body is laid to rest in the cemetery.

Catholic funerals are very somber occasions, so do wear something that is dark and appropriate. The mood of the service will be serious, especially since it can focus on the passing of the person along with the resurrection of Christ. Some people choose to have a service after the burial and when they have already made all of the necessary arrangements. You want to follow the lead of the other people around you, and while you do not have to kneel if you do not want to when called to do so, you do want to sit down and be otherwise respectful

Another thing that you want to remember is that the most common sympathy gift people give loved ones at a Catholic service is cards. If you want to send flowers, you want to do so through a florist, and be sure to also include a message. You can also choose to make a donation to the family to help with funerary services. If the person who died wanted a donation made to a particular charity, the service program or the obituary will mention it.

These are some of the things you want to remember when attending a Catholic funeral. As with any kind of funeral, you want to be very respectful and offer your condolences in a meaningful way. The Catholic service tends to be a bit longer than other types of funeral services, so do keep that in mind. If you want to know more about Catholic services or if you want to get started planning one, you can reach out to a Hamilton, OH funeral home like us. We are ready to answer all of the questions you have about this and much more. Call us right now or visit us today at one of our locations to ask any questions you may have.