URGENT RESPONSE! Funeral Mass vs Memorial Mass

[Pro Domina]

It is the 7th day of the death of a person. Is it the funeral mass or the memorial mass?
No body, though not buried yet, and won't be yet.

[benedictgal]

Originally Posted by Pro Domina

It is the 7th day of the death of a person. Is it the funeral mass or the memorial mass?
No body, though not buried yet, and won't be yet.

It would be a memorial Mass, as the body would not be present. Pro Domina, my mother died 15 years ago. Ever so often, I have Masses said for the repose of her soul. I would think that it's the same concept.

Just out of curiousity, is the deceased undergoing an autopsy, going to be cremated or are they waiting for the rest of the family to arrive?

[malphono]

It's a Requiem Mass but not really a Funeral Mass (Exequial Mass) which is done before burial. I don't know about the OF, but in the EF there are also Requiems offered on the 3rd, 7th, and 30th days, which can be counted either from day of death or day of burial. Since the current situation is the 7th day after death, the latter would seem to apply.

[FrDavid96]

Originally Posted by Pro Domina

It is the 7th day of the death of a person. Is it the funeral mass or the memorial mass?
No body, though not buried yet, and won't be yet.

It wouldn't be a funeral Mass because that term only applies if the remains are actually present in the church at the time.

As for a "memorial Mass" that depends upon just what you mean by the word. It's not wrong to use the term "memorial Mass" (in fact, it's a rather common and often perfectly appropriate term) but at the same time, this is an often-misused term. Allow me, please....

A Mass is never celebrated "in memory of (someone)" (at least not literally) but the Mass is celebrated "for the repose of the soul of (someone)" Sometimes people use the term "memorial" to wrongly imply that the Mass isn't about praying for the deceased but honoring the deceased.

So, if you do use the term "memorial Mass" just remember that it doesn't mean that the Mass is about honoring the deceased, but praying for the deceased.

[Justin1224]

My great aunt passed away a month ago today, Sept. 18, and was not buried until last Saturday morning. A mass was then celebrated after the burial, so the body was not present though the paschal candle was lit. At the end of the mass, the priest added the rite on commendation. Her burial and mass were each officiated by a different priest.

[mwscott]

Out of curiosity, what if the remains of a body can't be recovered?