Catholic funeral readings
Every reading the Lectionary for Mass offers for a funeral, grouped the way your parish will ask for them: a first reading, a psalm, a second reading and a Gospel. Source: Lectionary for Mass, nos. 1011–1016.
55 readingsFull text, KJV & Douay-RheimsLink to the NABRE
Old Testament (no. 1011)
First reading, outside the Easter season.
2 Maccabees 12:43–46
And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead…
Job 19:1, 23–27a
Then Job answered and said…
Wisdom 3:1–9
But the souls of the just are in the hand of God…
Wisdom 4:7–14
But the just man, if he be prevented with death…
Isaiah 25:6a, 7–9
And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things…
Lamentations 3:17–26
And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace…
Daniel 12:1–3
And at that time shall Michael stand up…
New Testament (Easter season) (no. 1012)
First reading in the Easter season.
Acts 10:34–43
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said…
Revelation 14:13
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me…
Revelation 20:11–21:1
And I saw a great white throne…
Revelation 21:1–5a, 6b–7
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth…
Responsorial Psalm (no. 1013)
Sung or read after the first reading.
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…
Psalm 25:6, 7bc, 17–18, 20–21
Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses…
Psalm 27:1, 4, 7, 8b, 9a, 13–14
The LORD is my light and my salvation…
Psalm 42:2, 3, 5; 43:3, 4, 5
As the hart panteth after the water brooks…
Psalm 63:2–6, 8–9
O God, thou art my God…
Psalm 103:8, 10, 13–18
The LORD is merciful and gracious…
Psalm 116:5, 6, 10–11, 15–16
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous…
Psalm 122
I was glad when they said unto me…
Psalm 130
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee…
Psalm 143:1–2, 5–8, 10
Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications…
New Testament (no. 1014)
Second reading.
Romans 5:5–11
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us…
Romans 5:17–21
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one…
Romans 6:3–9
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?…
Romans 8:14–23
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God…
Romans 8:31b–35, 37–39
What shall we then say to these things?…
Romans 14:7–9, 10c–12
For none of us liveth to himself…
1 Corinthians 15:20–24a, 25–28
But now is Christ risen from the dead…
1 Corinthians 15:51–57
Behold, I shew you a mystery…
2 Corinthians 4:14–5:1
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus…
2 Corinthians 5:1, 6–10
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved…
Philippians 3:20–21
For our conversation is in heaven…
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
But I would not have you to be ignorant…
2 Timothy 2:8–13
Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel…
1 John 3:1–2
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us…
1 John 3:14–16
We know that we have passed from death unto life…
Gospel (no. 1016)
Read by the priest or deacon.
Matthew 5:1–12a
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain…
Matthew 11:25–30
At that time Jesus answered and said…
Matthew 25:1–13
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins…
Matthew 25:31–46
When the Son of man shall come in his glory…
Mark 15:33–39; 16:1–6
And when the sixth hour was come…
Luke 7:11–17
And it came to pass the day after…
Luke 12:35–40
Let your loins be girded about…
Luke 23:33, 39–43
And when they were come to the place…
Luke 23:44–46, 50, 52–53; 24:1–6a
And it was about the sixth hour…
Luke 24:13–35
And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus…
John 5:24–29
Verily, verily, I say unto you…
John 6:37–40
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me…
John 6:51–58
I am the living bread which came down from heaven…
John 11:17–27
Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already…
John 11:32–45
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was…
John 12:23–28
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come…
John 14:1–6
Let not your heart be troubled…
John 17:24–26
Father, I will that they also…
John 19:17–18, 25–39
And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull…