Farewell Service

Hymns, readings and a printed program for a Christian funeral

John 14:1–6

A Catholic funeral reading (Gospel), also in the 1928 Prayer Book burial service, with the full text in the King James Version and the Douay-Rheims.

Reads in about 1 minute6 versesCatholic: Gospel

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King James Version

  1. 1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
  2. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
  3. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
  4. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
  5. 5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
  6. 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Douay-Rheims

  1. 1Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God: believe also in me.
  2. 2In my Father’s house there are many mansions. If not, I would have told you: because I go to prepare a place for you.
  3. 3And if I shall go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself: that where I am, you also may be.
  4. 4And whither I go you know: and the way you know.
  5. 5Thomas saith to him: Lord, we know not whither thou goest. And how can we know the way?
  6. 6Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.

Most Catholic parishes in the US read the New American Bible. Read John 14 in the NABRE at usccb.org.

Where this reading is used

  • Catholic: Gospel (Lectionary for Mass, no. 1016)
  • Episcopal: the lesson in the 1928 Prayer Book burial office
  • Protestant: a common funeral reading

Hymns based on it

Scripture: King James Version (1769 text) and Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (Project Gutenberg #1581); both public domain. Citation as listed in the Lectionary for Mass.