Funeral Readings

The Scripture readings below are suggested for Catholic funeral liturgies. Choose one from each grouping.

Readers must be Catholic.

First Reading (PDFs)

• 2 Maccabees 12:43-46
• Job 19:1, 23-27a
• Wisdom 3:1-9 (longer version)
• Wisdom 3: 1-6, 9 (shorter version)
• Wisdom 4:7-15
• Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9
• Lamentations 3:17-26
• Daniel 12:1-3

During Easter season, the following readings may also be used. 

• Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43 (longer version)
• Acts of the Apostles  10:34-36, 42-43 (shorter version)
• Revelation 14:13
• Revelation 20:11-21:1
• Revelation 21:1-5a, 6b-7 

Responsorial Psalm:  (choose from music sheet)
#30 The Goodness of the Lord
#551 How Lovely is your Dwelling Place (DeBruyen)
#67 In Every Age
#31 The Lord is my Light (DeBruyen)
#23, #24, #133 The Lord is my Shepherd
#689 Shelter Me, O God 

Second Reading (PDFs)

• Romans 5:5-11
• Romans 5:17-21 
• Romans 6:3-9 (longer version)
• Romans 6:3-4, 8-9 (shorter version)
• Romans 8:14-23
• Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39
• Romans 14:7-9,10c-12
• 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (longer version)
• 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (shorter version)
• 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
• 2 Corinthians 4:14-5:1
• 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10
• Philippians 3:20-21
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
• 2 Timothy 2:8-13
• 1 John 3:1-2

Gospel (PDFs)

• Matthew 5:1-12a
• Matthew 11:25-30
• Matthew 25:1-13
• Matthew 25:31-46
• Mark 15:33-39: 16:1-6 (longer version)
• Mark 15:33-39 (shorter version)
• Luke 7:11-17
• Luke 12:35-40
• Luke 23:33, 39-43
• Luke 23:44-46, 50, 52-53; 24:1-6a (longer version)
• Luke 23:44-46, 50, 52-53 (shorter version)
• Luke 24:13-35 (longer version)
• Luke 24:13-16, 28-35 (shorter version)
• John 5:24-29
• John 6:37-40
• John 6:51-59
• John 11:17-27 (longer version)
• John 11:21-27 (shorter version)
• John 11:32-45
• John 12:23-28 (longer version)
• John 12:23-26 (shorter version)
• John 14:1-6
• John 17:24-26
• John 19:17-18, 25-39