Funeral Music
Music for the Funeral Liturgy at St. Jude
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:
- The Gathering Song [when we enter the church]
- The Song at the Presentation of the Gifts
- The Song at Communion
- Communion Reflection
- Song of Farewell
- The Closing Song.
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. You may hear samples at this site: Search Results | OCP. Please note that not all songs on this site are available. Refer to the following list.
Most Commonly Selected Hymns for Funeral Masses:
Amazing Grace
Be Not Afraid
Here I Am, Lord
How Great Thou Art
I Am the Bread of Life
On Eagle’s Wings
Prayer of St. Francis
You Are Mine
Other Frequently Selected Hymns:
Blest Are They
Behold the Lamb
Eye Has Not Seen
Gift of Finest Wheat
Hosea
How Can I Keep from Singing
Like a Shepherd
Lord of the Dance
Lord, You Have Come (to the Seashore) / Pescador des hombres
One Bread, One Body
Panis Angelicus
Precious Lord
We Remember
We Will Rise Again
Entrance Hymns
Amazing Grace
Be Not Afraid
For All the Saints
On Eagle's Wings
Here I Am, Lord
O God, our Help in Ages Past
Sing with All the Saints in Glory
The Strife Is O'er
Marian Hymns (if desired, one of the following may be chosen for Presentation of Gifts or Communion Meditation)
Ave Maria
Amazing Grace
Blest Are They
Center of My Life
Hail Mary, Gentle Woman
Let There Be Peace on Earth
On Eagle's Wings
Prayer of St. Francis
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
You Are Mine
You Are Near
Song of Farewell (Final Commendation – sung when the priest incenses the casket, before the Closing Hymn)
Song of Farewell (May the choir of angels come to greet you . . .)
Song of Farewell (Come to his/her aid…. Set to the tune of “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” - Old Hundredth)
Jesus Remember Me
O Loving God (words of the final commendation set to the tune of “Danny Boy” –Londonderry Air)
Communion Hymns
Be Not Afraid
Blest Are They
Eat This Bread
Eye Has Not Seen
Gift of Finest Wheat
I Am the Bread of Life
Lord, You Have Come
On Eagle's Wings
Panis Angelicus
Shepherd Me, O God
Taste and See
We Remember
We Will Rise Again
You Are Mine
Departure Hymns
Amazing Grace
Be Not Afraid
For All the Saints
How Great Thou Art
On Eagle's Wings
Sing with All the Saints in Glory
The Strife Is O're
Responsorial Psalm (sung between the First and Second Readings by the cantor and congregation)
The following are the most well known settings
Ps. 23 Shepherd Me, O God (Haugen)
Ps. 23 The Lord Is My Shepherd
Ps. 27 The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation
Ps. 91 On Eagle’s Wings
Ps. 103 The Lord is Kind and Merciful