Music for Funeral Mass
Music Suggestions for Funerals
The sacred and communal nature of our Catholic Funeral Celebrations requires careful planning in the selection of music. This planning will ensure the ability of all those gathered to actively participate in the celebration. Because of the sacredness of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, secular instrumental or vocal music, or the use of recorded music of any kind may not be used. This music listed below is acceptable for Catholic funerals. Please consult with the musician who will be doing your funeral if you have any questions. Besides the service music which is standard for all Masses, we have options for the following parts of the Mass:
- Prelude (choices are optional)
- Processional
- Responsorial Psalm
- Offertory
- Communion
- Meditation
- Recessional
Sugerencias Musicales para Funerales
La naturaleza sagrada y comunitaria de nuestras celebraciones funerarias católicas requiere una planificación cuidadosa en la selección de la música. Esta planificación garantizará la participación activa de todos los asistentes. Debido a la santidad del Santo Sacrificio de la Misa, no se permite el uso de música instrumental o vocal secular, ni el uso de música grabada de ningún tipo. La música que se lista a continuación es aceptable para funerales católicos. Si tiene alguna pregunta, consulte con el músico que oficiará su funeral. Además de la música del oficio, estándar para todas las misas, tenemos opciones para las siguientes partes de la misa:
- Preludio (opciones opcionales)
- Procesional
- Salmo responsorial
- Ofertorio
- Comunión
- Meditación
- Recesional
Common & Popular Songs
We have prepared a list of songs often chosen for funeral liturgies, which may be included during the prelude, processional or gathering, offertory (presentation of gifts), communion, meditation, or recessional. Our funeral musician will be happy to guide you in choosing the most meaningful placement for each song. If there is a hymn or song close to your heart that is not listed, please feel free to share it with the musician, who can help determine if it is appropriate for a Catholic Mass and whether it can be included.
- Amazing Grace-Newton
- Be Not Afraid-Dufford
- Because He Lives (Amen)-Maher, et al
- Come to Jesus (Untitled Hymn)
- Covenant Hymn-Cooney, Daigle
- Doxology (Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow)
- Eternal Father Strong To Save (Navy hymn)
- Eye Has Not Seen-Haugen
- Give Me Jesus-Traditional/arr. Ortega
- Go Light Your World-Rice
- He Is Exalted-Paris
- Here I Am, Lord-Schutte
- Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
- Holy Is His Name-Talbot
- Holy, Holy, Holy-Heber/Dykes
- How Great Thou Art-Hine, et al
- I Can Only Imagine (Offertory)-Millard
- I’ll Fly Away-Brumley
- In Christ Alone-Townend
- Indescribable
- Lord of All Hopefulness
- Make Me Channel Of Your Peace-Temple
- My Song of Today (St Therese of Lisieux)
- O Breathe On Me, O Breath Of God
- O God Beyond All Praising-Holst
- On Eagle’s Wings-Joncas
- Only In God-Talbot
- Rise Up In Splendor-Booth
- Shepherd Me, O God (Psalm 23)-Haugen
- Sometimes by Step (“O God, you are my God”)
- Strength For the Journey-Poirier
- The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Psalms
Below is a list of options for psalms. To see a complete listing of psalm texts, please go to the website for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/bereavement-and-funerals/responsorial-psalms.cfm.
- Psalm 23 – The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want
- Psalm 25 -To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
- Psalm 27 – The Lord is my light and my salvation.
- Psalm 42 – My soul is thirsting for the living God: when shall I see him face to face?
- Psalm 63 – My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
- Psalm 103 – The Lord is kind and merciful
- Psalm 116 – I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.
- Psalm 122 – I rejoiced when I heard them say: let us go to the house of the Lord.
- Psalm 130 -Out of the depths, I cry to you, Lord.
- Psalm 143 – O Lord, hear my prayer.
Communion Songs (with Eucharistic Texts)
- Alleluia, Sing To Jesus
- Blessed Are You, Lord-Francois
- Bread of Life-Poirier
- Hungry-Scott
- I Am the Bread of Life-Ambrosetti
- I Am the Bread of Life-Talbot
- I Am The Bread of Life-Toolan (“ . . . and I will raise you up on the last day.”)
- I Am The Vine-Townsend
- I Love You, Lord – Maher
- Make Us A Eucharistic People-Pachelbel, Smith
- Miracle of Grace-Stephan
- O Sacrament Most Holy
- One Bread, One Body-Foley
- Sacred Heart Song-Poirier
- Taste and See-Moore
Meditation
These songs are typically chosen as a meditation after Communion, offering a quiet moment for reflection and prayer.
- Ave Maria-Schubert
- Be Not Afraid-Dufford
- Come to Jesus (Untitled Hymn)-Rice
- Covenant Hymn – Cooney, Daigle
- Give Me Jesus – Traditional/Arr. Ortega
- Holy Is His Name-Talbot
- In Christ Alone-Townend
- Lord of All Hopefulness
- Make Me Channel Of Your Peace-Temple
- My Song of Today (St Therese of Lisieux)
- O Breathe On Me, O Breath Of God
- On Eagle’s Wings-Joncas
- Only In God-Talbot
- Shepherd Me, O God-Haugen
- Strength For the Journey-Poirier
- Well Done-Ingraham, Fuqua, Havens
Contact
For any questions or guidance regarding the music for your loved one’s funeral, please feel free to contact Jarrod Townsend, who will be glad to assist you.
(480) 245-4116 | JTownsend@ctkmesa.org
