Catholic Funeral Q

[drachillix]

I was at a funeral today for a kinda distant relative at a catholic church and had a question.

Why are all of the statues and crucifixes covered during the ceremony?

[Cunctator]

In the last weeks of Lent statues and crucifixes are traditionally covered in purple in Catholic churches. I've heard various reasons given for this practice. The Catholic Encyclopaedia mentions two:

The crosses are veiled because Christ during this time no longer walked openly among the people, but hid himself. Hence in the papal chapel the veiling formerly took place at the words of the Gospel: "Jesus autem abscondebat se." Another reason is added by Durandus, namely that Christ's divinity was hidden when he arrived at the time of His suffering and death. The images of the saints also are covered because it would seem improper for the servants to appear when the Master himself is hidden.

Traditionally all of the crucifixes in the church are unveiled at the cermemony of the adoration of the cross during the singing of the Ecce lignum on Good Friday afternoon. The statues of saints are unveiled during the singing of the Gloria at the Easter Vigil mass.

[Ellen Cherry]

I didn't know the reasons Cunctator cites; it seems I was told that during Lent Church was stripped of all decoration, just as we ourselves are spiritually stripping down, fasting and making ourselves ready for the Resurrection. But it makes sense!

[Enright3]

And for one of my favorite Irish Catholic jokes... (of which I am, by the way)
Q. What's the difference between an Irish Funeral and an Irish Wake?
A. One less drunk person.

[Enright3]

Originally Posted by Enright3

And for one of my favorite Irish Catholic jokes... (of which I am, by the way)
Q. What's the difference between an Irish Funeral and an Irish Wake?
A. One less drunk person.

If I was insensitive for posting that, please accept my apology. I'm sorry for your loss.

E3

[OneCentStamp]

Originally Posted by Enright3

If I was insensitive for posting that, please accept my apology. I'm sorry for your loss.

E3

I don't know about insensitive (and I'm of Irish extraction), but to me it simply doesn't make sense. The dead person is equally dead at the funeral as at the wake, no? Why is there on fewer (not less!) drunk person?

[gigi]

That's a little odd, in that the altar gets stripped and the statues and crucifix covered (if that's what the church does) for Good Friday until the Vigil, since the death of Christ is being commemorated. Not during all of Lent.

I don't get the joke either.

[drachillix]

Originally Posted by Enright3

If I was insensitive for posting that, please accept my apology. I'm sorry for your loss.

E3

Was an uncle of my wife, I never met the guy, no offense taken.

[saoirse]

Originally Posted by OneCentStamp

I don't know about insensitive (and I'm of Irish extraction), but to me it simply doesn't make sense. The dead person is equally dead at the funeral as at the wake, no? Why is there on fewer (not less!) drunk person?

It's supposed to be wake and wedding, not funeral.

And for the OP, it is true, the decorations were covereed because of Lent. Sometimes it's not practical to take them down, so they are covered.

[tomndebb]

Originally Posted by gigi

That's a little odd, in that the altar gets stripped and the statues and crucifix covered (if that's what the church does) for Good Friday until the Vigil, since the death of Christ is being commemorated. Not during all of Lent.

Two separate traditions:
The statues are covered either on Palm Sunday or earlier in Lent (depending on local tradition--it is not an official practice).
The altar is stripped during the Triduum, at the end of the celebration Holy Thursday (after which we depart in silence with no recessional hymn), reflecting mourning in conjunction with the crucifixion. That is a liturgical rite of the church.

[gigi]

Originally Posted by tomndebb

Two separate traditions:
The statues are covered either on Palm Sunday or earlier in Lent (depending on local tradition--it is not an official practice).
The altar is stripped during the Triduum, at the end of the celebration Holy Thursday (after which we depart in silence with no recessional hymn), reflecting mourning in conjunction with the crucifixion. That is a liturgical rite of the church.

Gotcha (ya). I will have to pay closer attention this week because I wasn't remembering them being covered on Holy Thursday.

[t-bonham@scc.net]

Originally Posted by tomndebb

at the end of the celebration Holy Thursday (after which we depart in silence with no recessional hymn), reflecting mourning in conjunction with the crucifixion. That is a liturgical rite of the church.

Are you sure?

I recall that this was on Good Friday, not Holy Thursday.

[Cunctator]

Originally Posted by t-bonham@scc.net

Are you sure?

I recall that this was on Good Friday, not Holy Thursday.

In my experience the mass on Maundy Thursday ends with the stripping of the altar and the procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose, during which the hymn Pange Lingua is sung. Then there is a period of silent adoration. At the conclusion of the Good Friday liturgy there is complete silence.

[Diceman]

Originally Posted by Cunctator

At the conclusion of the Good Friday liturgy there is complete silence.

I'll find out for sure tomorrow, but I think think Cunctator is correct. Good Friday service is the one that ends without singing.

[BobLibDem]

Originally Posted by Diceman

I'll find out for sure tomorrow, but I think think Cunctator is correct. Good Friday service is the one that ends without singing.

Good Friday service (not a mass) begins and ends with the processional and recessional in complete silence. The altar is completely bare to start the service but is covered before the Eucharist is brought in from outside the sanctuary. The candle by the tabernacle that symbolizes the real presence of Christ is unlit that day.

[butler1850]

Originally Posted by saoirse

It's supposed to be wake and wedding, not funeral.

.

Wedding, funeral... depending on the couple, same thing...

[Ludovic]

Well, if what they say is true about Finnegan's Wake....

[t-bonham@scc.net]

Originally Posted by BobLibDem

The candle by the tabernacle that symbolizes the real presence of Christ is unlit that day.

Not unlit. It is moved to whatever side chapel is used to store the Eucharist for that period. (In some churches, rather than move the candle, a different one is lit and moved to the side chapel, and then the one at the main alter is put out.) But the 'presence' candle will still be burning somewhere in the church.

[gigi]

Originally Posted by tomndebb

Two separate traditions:
The statues are covered either on Palm Sunday or earlier in Lent (depending on local tradition--it is not an official practice).
The altar is stripped during the Triduum, at the end of the celebration Holy Thursday (after which we depart in silence with no recessional hymn), reflecting mourning in conjunction with the crucifixion. That is a liturgical rite of the church.

Ok, so this time just the crucifix behind the altar was covered with a red cloth, and only on Good Friday.

And yes, the altar cloths were stripped after Holy Thursday and for Good Friday.

[t-bonham@scc.net]

Originally Posted by Diceman

I'll find out for sure tomorrow, but I think think Cunctator is correct. Good Friday service is the one that ends without singing.

Turns out that we were all correct, including tomndebb's original statement.

Both the Holy Thursday Mass and the Good Friday service end in silence, people departing with no recessional hymm.

In my hometown church, the Good Friday service actually ends with people coming up to venerate the cross, then just sort of drifting away on their own, without any recessional hymm or even a common exit. People just leave on their own, until the church is left empty, just the priest & acolytes to put away things and leave themselves. (Though usually a few people silently praying vigil all thru that day & night.)