THE BASILICA OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS FUNERAL GUILD FIRST RESPONDER Rev. Mr. Mike Balfour, Deacon Phone: 404-974-2232
The Sacred Heart Funeral Guild was formed to assist parishioners when a death in the family occurs. Our hope is to make funeral preparations easier during this difficult time. FUNERAL REQUIEM MASS LOGISTICS When Sacred Heart learns of a death in the family, a Guild Member contacts the family either by phone or a home visit to determine if they would like assistance in planning the Funeral Requiem Mass. If so, the Guild Member discusses Funeral Requiem Mass options and is usually present during the funeral to ensure the ceremony goes as smoothly as possible and according to the family s wishes. In addition, if help is needed in preparing the obituary, the Guild Member provides assistance. Following are some things to keep in mind when planning the Funeral Mass: Ushers If desired, the Sacred Heart Office Staff will contact the Usher Captain to arrange for the presence of at least two ushers. Pallbearers The family is responsible for selecting and notifying persons to serve as pallbearers. Usually, four to six pallbearers are needed to facilitate the entrance of the coffin from the hearse into the church. A Funeral Guild Member is usually present to assist with the line-up. Music The best way to select the music is through direct contact with Sacred Heart s Organist, who has suggestions regarding appropriate music for the ceremony. Our Organist is Billy Krape, and he may be reached at 404-377- 3969. The fee for his service is $250 and is usually paid through the mortuary. Scripture Verses Selections of scripture verses are included in this booklet (pages 6-17), which may be used for the readings during the Mass. One scripture from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament (reading and gospel) are read during the Mass. The Celebrant may have preferences of his own to share. Family 2
members may participate in the readings if desired. Flowers If time permits, the family may purchase flowers from the Flower Guild, through the mortuary, or a personal florist. For a fee of $300, the Flower Guild provides two large arrangements for the high altar and two smaller arrangements for the side altars. The Guild does not make casket blankets, so this needs to be purchased through the mortuary or florist. Personal preferences may be considered for the Flower Guild arrangements. Special flower requests go through the Funeral Guild Member to the Flower Guild. General Intercessions Please notify the Celebrant if a family member wishes to participate in the General Intercessions part of the Mass. You may want to suggest additional prayers. A copy of the intercessions is included on page 5 of this booklet. Mass Program A Mass Program is offered by the office ftaff, time permitting and if the family desires one. After the selections of scripture and music are made, please give this information to the Funeral Guild Member so she may construct the program. A picture of the deceased may be included, as well as a brief write-up. Food/Reception At present, the Funeral Guild is not prepared to offer food for the funeral guests, but in the future we hope to broaden our services to include this service. Catering contacts are available from the Front Door Receptionist. Parking Please contact the parish office to make arrangements for parking for funerals occurring during the week. Deacon Mike Balfour, Pastoral Administrator, is in charge of this function. He can be contacted at 404-974-2232 or at deaconmbalfour@sacredheartatlanta.org On weekends, complimentary parking is available behind the church. 3
Pall Sacred Heart Catholic Church provides the Pall to place on the casket when brought into the Church. Wake A Funeral Guild Member is usually present at the Wake or Visitation in case the family needs assistance. Follow-up Life After Loss is a support group and ministry which meets regularly to help the family in the healing process. The Funeral Guild Member can put interested family members in contact with our Life After Loss Ministry Leader. EXAMPLE OF THE GENERAL INTERCESSIONS The Response: Lord, Hear Our Prayer That God, our loving Creator may grant eternal rest to his servant (name) let us pray to the Lord. (Response) That the God of Justice may reward every good deed of (name) s life, let us pray to the Lord. (Response) That the God of Mercy may forgive every act of human weakness of (name) s life, let us pray to the Lord. (Response) That the God of Love may grant eternal joy to one who loved God with his/her whole heart and his/her neighbor as himself/herself, let us pray to the Lord. (Response) That the God of Tenderness will console the hearts of (name) s family and loved ones, let us pray to the Lord. (Response) That the God of Courage will grant to all of us the grace to be faithful witnesses to Jesus by all that we say and do, let us pray to the Lord. (Response) Celebrant: O God to whom mercy and forgiveness belong, hear our prayers on behalf of your servant (name), whom you have 4
called out of this world; and because he/she put his/her hope and trust in you, command that he/she will be carried safely home to heaven and come to enjoy your eternal reward. We ask you this through Christ Our Lord. Amen. OLD TESTAMENT READINGS 1 I know that my redeemer lives. Job 19:1, 23-27a Then Job answered and said: Oh, would that my words were written down! Would that they were inscribed in a record: That with an iron 5
chisel and with lead they were cut in the rock forever! But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust; And from my flesh I shall see God; my inmost being is consumed with longing. Whom I myself shall see: my own eyes, not another's, shall behold him, and from my flesh I shall see God. Comment: Job is a classical figure of long-suffering and patience. He was afflicted time and again, his greatest test coming when his sons and daughters were wiped out in a savage wind that collapsed their house. Despite tragedy on every side, Job remained constant in his hope that his God would see him through. Even if he lost his own life, he was convinced he would see his God face to face. Job s faithvision has been a scriptural model for the Christian tradition of death: to face death with eyes that see beyond the here and now no matter how attractive and appealing the here and now may be. For Christians, the faith and trust of Job and his vision are enhanced by the great model of Jesus who could say in the face of death: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. 2 He accepted them as a holocaust. Wisdom 3:1-6 (short version) Wisdom 3:1-9 (long version) Verses 1-6 But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. Verses 7-9 In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect. Comment: This passage of scripture has been used by the Church for centuries in the Mass for Martyrs. How consoling and fitting in the witness of one s blood to hear: The souls of the just are in the hand of God and no torment shall touch them. When one thinks of martyrs, one might be tempted to think only of those of bygone times or perhaps modern martyrs like the Kennedys or Martin Luther 6
King or Gandhi; but the blood of many martyrs is often spilled out in the gradual lifelong outpouring of service to the brother; by a father or mother, a doctor or nurse, teacher or researcher. Martyr means witness and there are so many ways of witnessing to the message of Christ. Regardless of the manner of giving witness, the message of this scripture passage is deep hope and confidence: They are in peace. Psalm 118 Give thanks to the LORD, who is good, whose love endures forever. Let the house of Israel say: God's love endures forever. Let the house of Aaron say, God's love endures forever. Let those who fear the LORD say, God's love endures forever. In danger I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is with me; I am not afraid; what can mortals do against me? The LORD is with me as my helper; I shall look in triumph on my foes. Better to take refuge in the LORD than to put one's trust in mortals. Better to take refuge in the LORD than to put one's trust in princes. All the nations surrounded me; in the LORD'S name I crushed them. They surrounded me on every side; in the LORD'S name I crushed them. They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like fire among thorns; in the LORD'S name I crushed them. I was hard pressed and falling, but the LORD came to my help. The LORD, my strength and might, came to me as savior. The joyful shout of deliverance is heard in the tents of the victors: "The LORD'S right hand strikes with power; the LORD'S right hand is raised; the LORD'S right hand strikes with power." I shall not die but live and declare the deeds of the LORD. The LORD chastised me harshly, but did not hand me over to death. Open the gates of victory; I will enter and thank the LORD. This is the LORD'S own gate, where the victors enter. I thank you for you answered me; you have been my savior. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad. LORD, grant salvation! LORD, grant good fortune! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the LORD'S house. The LORD is God and has given us light. Join in procession with leafy branches up to the horns of the altar. 7
You are my God, I give you thanks; my God, I offer you praise. Give thanks to the LORD, who is good, whose love endures forever. Psalm 119 Happy are they whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the Lord. Happy are they who observe his decrees, Who seek him with all their heart, And do no wrong, but walk in his ways. Let your kindness come to me, O Lord Your salvation according to your promise. Remember your word to your servant Since you have given me hope. My comfort in my affliction is that your promise gives me life. My soul pines for your salvation; I hope in your word. My eyes strain after your promise; When will you comfort me? Your word, O Lord, endures forever; It is firm as the heavens. Through all generations your truth endures; You have established the earth, and it stand firm. A lamp to my feet is your word, A light to my path. I resolve and swear to keep your just ordinances. I am very much afflicted; O Lord, give me life according to your word. Behold my affliction, and rescue me, For I have not forgotten your law. Please my cause, and redeem me; For the sake of your promise give me life. Far from sinners is salvation, Because they seek not your statutes. Your compassion is great, O Lord; According to your ordinances give me life. (Other parts of this psalm may also be used.) 8
Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes toward the mountains; Whence shall help come to me? My help is from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. May he not suffer your foot to slip; May he slumber not who guards you: Indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps, The guardian of Israel. The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade; He is beside you at your right hand. The sun shall not harm you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord will guard you from all evil; He will guard your life. The Lord will guard your coming and your going, Both now and forever. Psalm 123 To you I lift up my eyes who are enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, As the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, So are our eyes on the Lord, our God, Till he have pity on us. Have pity on us, O Lord, have pity on us, For we are more than sated with contempt; Our souls are more than sated with the mockery of the arrogant, With the contempt of the proud. REPONSORIAL PSALMS 1 The Lord is my Shepherd. Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 9
Response: 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. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; He refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths for his name s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; For you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; My cup overflows. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. Response:... 2 To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Psalm 25:6-7bc, 17-18, 20-21 Response: To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. 10
Or: No one who waits for you, O Lord, will ever be put to shame. Remember that your compassion, O Lord, And your kindness are from of old. In your kindness remember me, Because of your goodness, O Lord. Relieve the troubles of my heart, And bring me out of my distress. Put an end to my affliction and my suffering, And take away all my sins. Preserve my life, and rescue me; Let me not be put to shame, For I take refuge in you. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, Because I wait for you, O Lord. 3 The Lord is my light and my salvation. Psalm 27:1, 4, 7 and 8b and 9a, 13-14 Response: 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. The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom should I fear? The lord is my life s refuge; Of whom should I be afraid? One thing I ask of the Lord; This I seek: To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, 11
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate his temple. Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call: Have pity on me, and answer me. Your presence, O Lord, I seek. Hide not your face from me; Do not in anger repel your servant. I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord with courage; Be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. 4 My soul is thirsting for the living God. Psalm 42:2, 3, 5bcd; Psalm 43:3, 4, 5 Response: My soul is thirsting for the living God: when shall I see him face to face? As the hind longs for the running waters, So my soul longs for you, O God. Athirst is my soul for God, the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God? When I went with the throng and led them in procession to the house of God, Amid loud cries of joy and thanksgiving, With the multitude keeping festival. Send forth your light and your fidelity; 12
They shall lead me on And bring me to your holy mountain, To your dwelling-place. Then I will go in to the altar of God, The God of my gladness and joy; Then will I give you thanks upon the harp, O God, my God! Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why do you sigh within me? Hope in God! For I shall again be thanking him, In the presence of my savior and my God. Response:... 5 My soul is thirsting for you. Psalm 63:2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 8-9 Response: My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. O God, you are my God whom I seek; For you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts Like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary To see your power and your glory, For your kindness is a greater good than life; My lips shall glorify you. 13
Thus will I bless you while I live; Lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, And with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. That you are my help, And in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. My soul clings fast to you; Your right hand upholds me. 6 The Lord is kind and merciful. Psalm 103:8 and 10, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18 Response: The Lord is kind and merciful. Or: The salvation of the just comes from the Lord. Merciful and gracious is the Lord, Slow to anger and abounding in kindness. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, Nor does he requite us according to our crimes. As a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion of those who fear him, For he know how we are formed; He remembers that we are dust. Man s days are like those of grass; Like a flower of the field he blooms; The wind sweeps over him and he is gone, And his place knows him no more. 14
But the kindness of the Lord is from eternity to eternity toward those who fear him, And his justice toward children s children Among those who keep his covenant And remember to fulfill his precepts. Response:... NEW TESTAMENT READINGS 1 We wait for our bodies to be set free. 15
Romans 8:14-23 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father!" The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Comment: This passage is especially fitting for a person who has been of great service to the world he lived in. Christians are sons of God in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. We stand at the Eucharistic table so often, and with confidence, call God, Our Father. The cost of our sonship, of our discipleship, is that we learn to suffer with him. The suffering we are called upon to undergo is not just a sort of resigned acquiescence to accept physical and mental pain; it is this, but much more. The disciple of Christ is one who meets rebuff and criticism from this peers: The disciple of Christ is one who is laughed at because of his understanding of the meaning of love. Such a disciple suffers from many directions day after day, attempting to give vision and to speak prophetically to a shiftless and aimless world of men. Discipleship is costly. 16
But, with Paul, the Christian disciple keeps his vision of the resurrected Christ always in focus. He realizes that the whole world and all of mankind need his vision even though they do not appreciate it. After all, what prophet hasn t been killed? The redemption of the collective body of humanity depends on the longsuffering of the sons of God calling forth the best out of the human condition, hoping that this call will be heard and heeded. Indeed, all of creation, the animal world, the world evolving, the marine world, and the total human world, all depend on the sons of God constantly awakening to the hidden possibilities resting in the heart of the earth. 2 Nothing can really come between us and the love of Christ. Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39 If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ (Jesus) who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 Alive or dead, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:7-9, 10b-12 No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor 17
present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." So (then) each of us shall give an account of himself (to God). Comment: Tossed about by the storms of life, the faithful Christian stands steadfast in his faith in Jesus Christ risen and in glory. The forces of evil surround the human condition because our battle is against the principalities and powers, against the world rulers of this darkness. But nothing really can shake or change the Christian s resolve. Each person tries to change the face of his earth. As we follow one another through history, not only do we have to fight the good fight alone, but alone we have to bear the responsibility of how we fare in this struggle. St. Paul makes it crystal clear in 14:9-10 that credit of discredit in one s judgment before God will be based on how one treats his brother. Jesus did not die and rise for himself, but to enable men to live for God; so the Christian must conduct himself in such a way that others can also live for God. While we live, we are responsible to the Lord, and when we die, we die as his servants. 4 If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest. John 12:23-26 (short version) John 12:23-28 (long version) Verses 23-26 Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever 18
serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me. Verses 27-28 "I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again." Comment: To be, to live, never not to be, is man s unfading hope. As man watches his relatives in nature all around him, he learns his lesson about how to live and how to die and how to be beyond. The acorn falls from the tree, is buried in the earth by the forces around it, rots in the chemistry of the soil and would seem to have disappeared. But as we know so well, the slowly grinding powers of creation combine together to create a new thing, a new tree, a giant oak. A flower seed, a grain of wheat, tiny chemical masterpieces of every species, all speak the same lesson. And the lesson is clear: Death and corruption in the earth precede the glory of a new plant. The tomb of the earth is really the womb of new life. Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain a wheat, but if it dies, it produces much fruit. The grave of each person is to be the producer of new life. The resurrection of Jesus reversed the attitude that the grave was simply a tomb. His tomb received his body; but his tomb gave birth to a new life, and a new day, and a new way. 5 There are many rooms in my Father s house. John 14:1-6 19
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where (I) am going you know the way." Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Comment: The apostles were forewarned by Jesus about where he was going. He was to leave them to prepare a place for them, for the Church. Jesus rose from the dead, meaning his resurrection was completed in his ascension to the right hand of the Father. From his resurrected place of honor, Jesus calls to the toal Church, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me. Jesus is man s way to God, because he was God s way to man. Man can reach his God now through Jesus, the Son of God. 6 Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am. John 17:24-26 Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them." Comment: This passage from St. John is taken from the final prayer of Jesus 20
the night before his death. Jesus prayed for his disciples that they, and the whole Church, would share the glory the Father would give him. Jesus identified with man and now he asks his Father to complete that solidarity with him by giving all a share in his resurrection. Jesus revealed the Father to us, and in doing so revealed the common circle of love between Father, Son, and the Church: so that your love for me may live in them and I may live in them. 21
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THE BASILICA OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS Established in 1880 Reverend Thomas J. Meehan, Pastor 353 Peachtree Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30308-3217 404.522.6800 www.sacredheartatlanta.org Updated 1/17/07 23