The introduction to the Order of Christian Funerals devotes four paragraphs to the question of Music in the Funeral liturgy (numbers 30-34). Number 30 is particularly relevant to your question.
Music is integral to the Funeral rites. It allows the community to express convictions and feelings that word alone may fail to convey. It has the power to console and uplift the mourners and to strengthen the unity of the assembly in faith and love. The texts of the songs chosen for a particular celebration should express the paschal mystery of the Lord's suffering, death, and triumph over death and should be related to the readings from Scripture.
St. Boniface Parish and St. Meinrad Parish in Spencer County provide the use of the annual in-pew missal, Breaking Bread with Daily Mass Propers, for parishioners and guests featuring a diverse repertoire of time-honored and contemporary music along with approved content from the ritual books—all updated every year.
Breaking Bread with Daily Mass Propers features daily Mass propers for every day of the year, along with full readings, as well as responsorial psalms with verses from the Lectionary for all of the readings for Sundays and solemnities.
To keep our parish family safe, healthy and engaged in the liturgy, parishioners may request a personal copy of Breaking Bread with Daily Mass Propers for use at home, at a care center, and for participating in Mass at their parish.
Contact the parish office by the First Sunday of Advent to request a personal copy to be used during Advent and through Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the liturgical year.
To view or listen to music selections that can support and console, visit the OCP homepage.
At the top of the homepage enter in the search box the key word or phrase
- e.g. heard - when searching for the hymn I Heard the Voice of Jesus.
Click/tap on the next to a hymn title to listen.