Additional Deceased Spouse
The vigil may take place in the home of the deceased, at the funeral home, or in the church the day before the Funeral Mass. If there is no visitation the day before, the visitation may occur in the narthex of the church 1 hour before the Funeral Mass. Customarily, the family gathers for a private prayer service approximately 30 minutes before the public visitation.
The Day Before
The Day of Funeral
On the occasion when the Visitation of the Body and the Mass of Christian Burial is on the same date, the Family Prayer Service lead by the parish priest or assigned deacon begins in the narthex of the church, 90 minutes before the Funeral Mass. The public visitation begins 1 hour before the Mass of Christian Burial, giving the family time to privately gather and grieve before the Family Prayer Service and others' arrival, including friends and neighbors of the deceased and their family already gathered. The vigil for the deceased is the official prayer of the church for the deceased and the first of the three major rites celebrated by the Christian community. The vigil service is never omitted.
Mass of Christian Burial
Bereavement Luncheon
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