Roman Catholic Prayer of Committal
Just like christening- and dedication gowns as well as pieces of jewellery are family heirlooms passed down from generation to generation, so are Roman Catholic prayers. The Roman Catholic Prayer of Committal is a beautiful, comforting prayer.
Roman Catholics pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Hail Mary and the Lord’s Prayer are examples of prayers. There are however, also a number of prayers to Jesus Christ within the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church and not just to Mary.
It is absolutely true that prayers are not just a Catholic thing – they are used by millions of people from all walks of life to enter into the presence of God. The prayer of Roman Catholics are grounded in tradition, and these prayers, both vocal and meditative, are based on the prayers taught by the Church.
Some of the other fundamental Catholic prayers are –
- the ‘sign of Cross’ – In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
- the Apostle’s Creed
- Glory Be
How one prays will depends on the purpose of your prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers information on the different types of prayer, offering advice and tips on how to pray. When it comes to funerals, the Vigil, the Funeral Liturgy and the Committal help Catholics on a path to true healing and peace.
Roman Catholic Prayer of Committal
The Roman Catholic Prayer of Committal, which is the burial or entombment of the remains of the deceased has its own prayers. A Catholic cemetery and burial is a sacred place, and a representative of the Church presides at the Committal Service. There is a prayer for the actual place of committal. It asks Jesus Christ to hallow the graves of those who believe in Him and to grant that the brother or sister within the grave will be awakened to Christ’s glory and see Him face to face where they will live and reign with Christ forever.
In committing the body to its resting place, the church and the community expresses the hope that everyone who has gone before is marked with the sign of faith. With the prayer of Committal, the deceased passes with into the presence of God, and the farewell prayers of the community go with that person who need faith no longer.
Communion between the Church in Heaven and on Earth
The Rite of Committal is actually the last ceremony in a Catholic funeral, and is celebrated at the site of interment of the body. The committal prayer is seen as communion between the Church on earth and the Church in Heaven. These committal prayers allow the deceased to pass from the community of mourners to those friends and family who are already with God.
The priest can say something in the line of ‘O God, by your mercy, may the departed one find rest in you.’ He may go on to say ‘Bless this grave, and send your holy angels to watch over it….may the angels also rejoice in you with your saints for all eternity.’
The Roman Catholic Church wants its parishioners to know that the church family, the local community and the church leadership are praying for the next of kin of the deceased in their time of loss and despair.
To get your funeral cover quote, simply complete and send the form on this page
For life insurance quotes please go to Life Insurance Info
All info was correct at time of publishing