We Christians find bright rays of hope even in the midst of our darkest times. We believe that death is not only an end, but also a beginning. Our loved one has passed from this present, temporary life to a perfect, permanent one. He or she who knew God in faith on earth now sees the Lord face-to-face in heaven. While death separates us, we will one day be reunited with all those we love in a "dwelling provided for us by God, a dwelling in the heavens, not made by hands but to last forever' (2 Corinthians 5:1).
When a Catholic dies, the church celebrates a particular set of liturgical rites to help us through the immediate days of our grieving to express our belief in eternal life, and to help us pray for the one who has died. These rites are organized into what is called the Order of Christian funerals, which contains all the liturgical prayers, scripture readings and blessings for use immediately following the death of a member of the Church. The Order provides prayers for loved ones as they gather in the presence of the body, for the wake service, funeral, final commendation (prayer of farewell), and the Rite of Committal (which we celebrate at the place of burial, entombment, or cremation),.
The Catholic Funeral Rite is divided into three components: