In times of grief and sorrow, we often turn to music as an expression of our faith — of those beliefs and hopes we sometimes cannot express in words. Whether planning the Funeral Liturgy of a loved one or pre-planning your own, the music you select can say a lot about what you, your family and loved ones believe. It can be a great source of comfort and consolation to the living. The music you select can even inspire new faith or renewed faith in the lives of your family and friends. We hope the musical choices below will help you to select music that is both comforting and up-lifting.

In the funeral liturgy there several opportunities for hymns:

1. Gathering Hymn
2. Hymn at the Presentation of the Gifts
3. Communion Hymn
4. Communion Meditation Hymn
5. Departure Hymn.

We offer the following suggestions for your consideration. The placement of the music is usually best left to the discretion and experience of the parish musician.

Hymns for Funeral Masses:

It Is Well with My Soul (All Is Well with My Soul)

Amazing Grace

Be Not Afraid

Behold the Lamb

Center of My Life

Eye Has Not Seen

Gift of Finest Wheat

Here I Am, Lord

Hosea (Come Back to Me, with All Your Heart)

How Great Thou Art

I Am the Bread of Life

On Eagle’s Wings

Only in God (Talbot)

Prayer of St. Francis

How Can I Keep from Singing

One Bread, One Body

Panis Angelicus

Precious Lord

Sing with All the Saints in Glory

The King of Love My Shepherd Is

We Remember

Marian Hymns (if desired, one of the following may be chosen for Presentation of Gifts or Communion Meditation):

Ave Maria 

Hail Mary, Gentle Woman

Holy Is His Name

Hymns Sung during Incensing (Final Commendation):

O Loving God (Hymn tune – Londonderry Air -O Danny Boy)

May the Choirs of Angels

Song of Farewell (Hymn Tune – Old Hundredth – Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow)