The Catholic Church sees the death of a Christian as the end of the earthly pilgrimage and the beginning of a new and eternal life with God.  The rites of the Church reflect this belief.   The rites of the Church aim to assist the dead with prayers of the Church for their eternal salvation in Jesus Christ and to aid the family and friends of the deceased in their time of loss and sorrow with a message of hope and consolation in Jesus Christ.

The focus of the Catholic Funeral Liturgy is God. The Church praises God for His goodness and for the gifts of life and love which He bestows and are experienced by the deceased. In the Funeral Liturgy, the Church turns to God in faith for the reward of eternal life for those who believe in God and lived for God in this life. The Church prays to God for the healing and consolation of those who mourn.

The Funeral Liturgy is an aid for both the living and dead. As we gather to pray for our beloved dead we are strengthened and renewed in our faith so that we can recommit ourselves to loving God and living our lives in Jesus Christ. The dead are assisted by our prayers for the forgiveness of their sins and for their entrance into eternal life with the saints in glory.

The Funeral Liturgy is closely tied with the Rites of Baptism when the promise of eternal life in Christ is first given to those who believe. The ritual symbols of water, the paschal candle, the pall, the Word of God and the journey to the altar, all recall the journey that begins for the Catholic in baptism.

The Order of Christian Funerals has three stations reflecting the earthly pilgrimage and the journey to Heaven for the followers of Jesus: The Vigil at the funeral home, the Funeral Liturgy at the Church and The Final Commendation and Burial at the cemetery.

Please call the office as soon as a loved one dies at 979-233-5271.

Funerals are generally held in the church Funeral liturgies outside of Mass may also be held at the funeral home. Funeral Masses may not be celebrated in a funeral home

The following are lists of Scriptures appropriate for use at Catholic Funeral Liturgies. One reading is chosen from each the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Gospels. 

*Other Scripture passages can be presented to the presider for approval. 

**Non-Scripture readings cannot be read in place of these readings, but could be used in the worship aides or through some other means.

Old Testament

2 Maccabees 12:43-46 "...he made atonement for the dead..."  

Job 19: 1, 23-27  "...I know that my vindicator lives...."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15  "...A time to be born, a time to die..." 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 "...A time to be born, a time to die..."

Wisdom 3:1-9 "...The souls of the just are in the hand of God..." 

Wisdom 3:1-6,9 "...The souls of the just are in the hand of God..." 

Wisdom 4:7-14 "The Righteous One, though he die early, shall be at rest..." 

Sirach 2:1-11 "...in fire gold is tested....Compassionate is the Lord..." 

Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9 "...he will destroy death forever..." 

Isaiah 26:7-19 "...your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise..." 

Isaiah 35:1-10 "...Here is your God, he comes with vindication..." 

Isaiah 40:1-11 "...Here is your God, Here comes with power..." 

Lamentations 3:17-26 "...My portion is the Lord, says my soul..."

Ezekiel 37:12-14 "O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise..." 

Daniel 12:1-3 "...the wise shall shine brightly..." 

Micah 7:7-9 "...though I sit in darkness, the Lord is my light..." 



New Testament

Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43 "Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins"

Acts of the Apostles 10:34-36,42-43 "Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins"

Romans 5:1,5-11  "...We were reconciled to God through the death of his Son..." 

Romans 5:17-21 "...through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all..." 

Romans 6:3-9  "...if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall live with him..." 

Romans 6:3-4,8-9 "...if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall live with him..." 

Romans 8:1-11  "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ..."  

Romans 8:14-23 "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are Children of God"

Romans 8:31-35,37-39 "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Romans 14:7-9,10-12 "This is why Christ died and came to life"

1 Corinthians 2:6-10 "Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard..." 

1 Corinthians 15:12-20  "If there is no resurrection of the dead..."

1 Corinthians 15:20-28 "In Adam all die, so too if Christ shall all be brought to life."

1 Corinthians 15:51-57 "Death where is your victory?"

2 Corinthians 4:14-5:1  "The one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us..."

2 Corinthians 5:1,6-10 "We would rather leave the body and go home..." 

Philippians 3:7-14 "...I run toward the prize to which God calls me..."

Philippians 3:20-21  "He will change our lowly body..."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  "If we believe that Jesus died and rose..."

2 Timothy 2:8-13 "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead..." 

2 Timothy 4:1-2,6-8 "I have competed well, I have finished the race..." 

1 John 3:1-2 "Beloved, we are God's children now..."

1 John 3:14-16  "We know that we have passed from death to life..."

Revelation 14:13 "...Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord..."

Revelation 20:11-12:1 "...The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades..."

Revelation 21:1-5a,6b-7 "...I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem..."


Gospel

Matthew 5:1-12a  "The Eight Beatitudes" 

Matthew 11:25-30  "come to me . . . and I will give you rest." 

Matthew 25:1-13  "Look. The bridegroom comes. Go out to meet him" 

Matthew 25:31-46  "Come, you whom my Father has blessed" 

Mark 15:33-39  "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 

Mark 15:33 ---16:6  "Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last" 

Luke 7:11-17  "Young man, I say to you, arise." 

Luke 12:35-40  "Be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,..." 

Luke 23:33-43  "Today you will be with me in paradise." 

Luke 23:44  ---24:6a  "Father, I put my life in your hands." 

Luke 23:44-49 "Father into your hands I commend my spirit"

Luke 24:13-35 "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer..." 

Luke 24:13-16,28-35 "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer..." 

John 5:24-29  "Whoever hears my word and believes has passed from..."

John 6:37-40 "All who believe in the Son will have eternal life..." 

John 6:51-58  "All who eat this bread will live for ever...." 

John 11:17-27 "I am the resurrection and the life." 

John 11:21-27 "I am the resurrection and the life." 

John 11:32-45 "Lazarus, come out." 

John 12:23-28  "If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies..." 

John 12:23-26 "If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies..." 

John 14:1-6  "There are many rooms in my Father's house." 

John 17:24-26  "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me..." 

John 19:17-30  "Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirits."