Masses for the Dead
(Funeral Liturgies or Memorial Masses)

Some of these biblical texts are also recommended in the Order of Christian Funerals for Vigils for the Deceased, as listed below this chart.

Other Funeral Rites:

The Order of Christian Funerals (1998) prints the following scriptural readings in the sections for the various rites, with the result that these selections are used most frequently, even though various introductory notes say, "Other readings, psalms, and gospel readings are given in Part III"; or "One of the following or another brief Scripture verse is read"; or something similar, indicating that one may always select other appropriate biblical texts.

Paragraph 344 of the Order of Christian Funerals states this principle explicitly: "As a general rule, all corresponding texts from Sacred Scripture in the funeral rites are interchangeable. In consultation with the family and close friends, the minister chooses the texts that most closely reflect the particular circumstances and the needs of the mourners."

Vigil for the Deceased:

• First Reading: 2 Cor 5:1, 6-10
• Responsorial Psalm: Ps 27
• Gospel: Luke 12:35-40

Vigils for the Deceased with Reception at the Church:

• First Reading: 1 John 3:1-2
• Responsorial Psalm: Ps 103
• Gospel: John 14:1-6

Vigils for a Deceased Child:

• First Reading: 1 John 3:1-2
• Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23
• Gospel: Mark 10:13-16

Prayers after Death (suggested readings):

• Matthew 18:19-20
• John 11:21-27
• Luke 20:35-38

Gathering in the Presence of the Body (scripture verse):

• Matthew 11:28-30
• John 14:1-3
• Psalm 130
• Psalm 115 & 116

Transfer of the Body to the Church (scripture verse):

• Colossians 3:3-4
• Romans 6:8-9

Rite of Committal (scripture verse):

• Matt 25:34
• John 6:39
• Philippians 3:20
• Revelation 1:5-6
• These same four brief scripture verses are also given for the Rite of Committal with Final Commendation.
• These same four brief scripture verses are also given for the two Rites of Committal for Children.

Rite of Final Commendation for an Infant (scripture verse):

• Romans 5:5b
• 1 John 3:2
   

Masses for the Dead (Lectionary for Mass ## 1011-1016; cf. Order of Christian Funerals, Part III: Texts of Sacred Scripture)

Here are brief synopses of the main readings, refrains for the Responsorial Psalms, and texts of the Alleluia verses.

First Reading, from the OT (outside of the Easter Season)

1. 2 Macc 12:43-46 – He acted in an excellent and noble way as he had the resurrection of the dead in view.
2. Job 19:1, 23-27a – I know that my Vindicator lives.
3. Wis 3:1-9 (or 3:1-6, 9) – As sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
4. Wis 4:7-14 – An unsullied life, the attainment of old age.
5. Isa 25:6a, 7-9 – He will destroy death forever.
6. Lam 3:17-26 – It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord.
7. Dan 12:1-3 – Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.

First Reading, from the NT (during the Season of Easter)

1. Acts 10:34-43 (or 10:34-36, 42-43) – He is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.
2. Rev 14:13 – Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.
3. Rev 20:11—21:1 – The dead were judged according to their deeds.
4. Rev 21:1-5a, 6b-7 – There shall be no more death.

Responsorial Psalm

1. Ps 23:1-3, 4, 5, 6 – “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” or “Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.”
2. Ps 25:6+7bc, 17-18, 20-21 – “To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.” or “No one who waits for you, O Lord, will ever be put to shame.”
3. Ps 27:1, 4, 7+8b+9a, 13-14 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” or “I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.”
4. Ps 42:2, 3, 5cdef; 43:3, 4, 5 – “My soul is thirsting for the living God: when shall I see him face to face?”
5. Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 – “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.”
6. Ps 103:8+10, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18 – “The Lord is kind and merciful.” or “The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.”
7. Ps 116:5, 6, 10-11, 15-16ac – “I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.” or “Alleluia.”
8. Ps 122:1-2, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 – “I rejoicedwhen I heard them say: let us go to the house of the Lord.” or “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”
9. Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6ab, 6c-7, 8 – “Out of the depths, I cry to you, Lord.” or “I hope in the Lord, I trust in his word.”
10. Ps 143:1-2, 5-6, 7ab+8ab, 10 – “O Lord, hear my prayer.”

Second Reading, from the NT

1. Rom 5:5-11 – Since we are now justified by his Blood, we will be saved through him from the wrath.
2. Rom 5:17-21 – Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more.
3. Rom 6:3-9 (or 6:3-4, 8-9) – We too might live in newness of life.
4. Rom 8:14-23 – We also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
5. Rom 8:31b-35, 37-39 –What will separate us from the love of Christ?
6. Rom 14:7-9, 10c-12 – Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
7. 1 Cor 15:20-24a, 25-28 (or 15:20-23) – So too in Christ shall all be brought to life.
8. 1 Cor 15:51-57 – Death is swallowed up in victory.
9. 2 Cor 4:14—5:1 – What is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.
10. 2 Cor 5:1, 6-10 – We have a building from God, eternal in heaven.
11. Phil 3:20-21 – He will change our lowly bodies to conform to his glory.
12. 1 Thess 4:13-18 – Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
13. 2 Tim 2:8-13 – If we have died with him we shall also live with him.
14. 1 John 3:1-2 – We shall see him as he is.
15. 1 John 3:14-16 – We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers.

Alleluia Verse

1. See Matt 11:25 – “Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to the childlike the mysteries of the Kingdom.”
2. Matt 25:34 – “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, says the Lord; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
3. John 3:16 – “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.”
4. John 6:39 – “This is the will of my Father, says the Lord, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day.”
5. John 6:40 – “This is the will of my Father, says the Lord, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”
6. John 6:51 – “I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
7. John 11:25a, 26 – “I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me will never die.”
8. Phil 3:20 – “Our true home is in heaven, and Jesus Christ, whose return we long for, will come from heaven to save us.”
9. 2 Tim 2:11-12a – “If we die with Christ, we shall live with him, and if we persevere we shall also reign with him.”
10. Rev 1:5a, 6b – “Jesus Christ is the firstborn from the dead; glory and power be his forever and ever. Amen.”
11. Rev 14:13 – “Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; let them rest from their labors for their good deeds go with them.”

Gospel Proclamation

1. Matt 5:1-12a – Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
2. Matt 11:25-30 – Come to me and I will give you rest.
3. Matt 25:1-13 – Behold the bridegroom! Come out to him!
4. Matt 25:31-46 – Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
5. Mark 15:33-39; 16:1-6 (or 15:33-39) – Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.
6. Luke 7:11-17 – Young man, I tell you arise!
7. Luke 12:35-40 – You also must be prepared.
8. Luke 23:33, 39-43 – Today you will be with me in Paradise.
9. Luke 23:44-46, 50, 52-53; 24:1-6a (or 23:44-46, 50, 52-53) – Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
10. Luke 24:13-35 (or 24:13-16, 28-35) – Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?
11. John 5:24-29 – Whoever hears my word and believes has passed from death to life.
12. John 6:37-40 – Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.
13. John 6:51-58 – Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and I will raise them up on the last day.
14. John 11:17-27 (or 11:21-27) – I am the resurrection and the life.
15. John 11:32-45 – Lazarus, come out!
16. John 12:23-28 (or 12:23-26) – If it dies, it produces much fruit.
17. John 14:1-6 – In my Father’s house there are many dwellings.
18. John 17:24-26 – I wish that where I am they also may be with me.
19. John 19:17-18, 25-39 – And bowing his head he handed over his Spirit.

Funerals for Baptized Children (Lectionary ## 1017-1022)

First Reading, from the OT (outside of the Easter Season)

1. Isa 25:6a, 7-9 – He will destroy death forever.
2. Lam 3:22-26 – It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord.

First Reading, from the NT (during the Season of Easter)

1. Rev 7:9-10, 15-17 – God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
2. Rev 21:1a, 3-5a – There shall be no more death.

Responsorial Psalm

1. Ps 23:1-3, 4, 5, 6 – “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”
2. Ps 25:4-5ab, 6+7bc, 20-21 – “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”
3. Ps 42:2, 3, 5cdef; 43:3, 4, 5 – “My soul is thirsting for the living God: when shall I see him face to face?”
4. Ps 148:1-2, 11-13a, 13c-14 – “Let all praise the name of the Lord.” or “Alleluia.”

Second Reading, from the NT

1. Rom 6:3-4, 8-9 – We believe that we shall also live with him.
2. Rom 14:7-9 – Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
3. 1 Cor 15:20-23 – So too in Christ shall all be brought to life.
4. Eph 1:3-5 – He chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy.
5. 1 Thess 4:13-14, 18 – We shall be with the Lord forever.

Alleluia Verse

1. See Matt 11:25 – “Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to the childlike the mysteries of the Kingdom.”
2. John 6:39 – “This is the will of the Father, says the Lord, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day.”
3. 2 Cor 1:3b-4a – “Blessed be the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction.”

Gospel Proclamation

1. Matt 11:25-30 – You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to the childlike.
2. Mark 10:13-16 – The Kingdom of heaven belongs to little children.
3. John 6:37-40 (or 6:37-39) – This is the will of my Father, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me.
4. John 6:51-58 – Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and I will raise him up on the last day.
5. John 11:32-38, 40 – If you believe, you will see the glory of God.
6. John 19:25-30 – Behold, your mother.

Funerals for Children Who Died Before Baptism (Lectionary ##1023-1026)

First Reading, from the OT (outside of the Easter Season)

1. Isa 25:6a, 7-8b – He will destroy death forever.
2. Lam 3:22-26 – It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

1. Ps 25:4-5ab, 6+7bc, 17+20 – “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”

Alleluia Verse

1. 2 Cor 1:3b-4a – “Blessed be the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction.”
2. Rev 1:5a+6b – “Jesus Christ is the firstborn from the dead; glory and kingship be his forever and ever. Amen.”

Gospel Proclamation

1. Matt 11:25-30 – You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to the childlike.
2. Mark 15:33-46 – Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.
3. John 19:25-30 – Behold, your mother.

Contents of Volume 4:
Commons | Rituals | Various Needs & Occasions | Votive Masses | Masses for the Dead

See also the Weekday Readings for the Liturgical Seasons:
Advent and Christmas | Lent | Easter | Ordinary Time: Year I | Ordinary Time: Year II | Saints and Feast Days

Source: Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, 
© 2001, 1998, 1992, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C.

The Lectionary for Mass used in the USA is based on the Ordo Lectionum Missae, editio typical altera (Latin Lectionary, second edition, 1981).

For the full texts of the readings for the current and upcoming months, 
please refer to the official web-site of the New American Bible, sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.