top of page
h9.jpg

Funeral Readings

“Words of Comfort and Hope”

The following list serves as a reference for families selecting readings for a Catholic funeral. These Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel passages offer comfort, hope, and reassurance, emphasizing God’s mercy, resurrection, eternal life, and the promise of being reunited with Christ.

Families may choose one or more readings based on their loved one’s faith and the message they wish to convey. The priest or deacon presiding over the service can assist in selecting the most appropriate passages.

Each reading reflects the Christian understanding of death—not as an end, but as a transition to eternal life with God. Whether expressing trust in God’s salvation, the victory of Christ over death, or the promise of resurrection, these scriptures offer prayerful reflection and spiritual support during a time of mourning.

First Reading from the Old Testament Readings

  • 2 Maccabees 12:43-45 - ‘He acted very well and honourably, taking account of the resurrection'

  • Job 19:1, 23-27a - ‘I know that my Redeemer lives.’

  • Wisdom 3:1-9 - ‘Like a sacrificial whole burnt offering he accepted them.’

  • Wisdom 3:1-6, 9 - ‘Like a sacrificial whole burnt offering he accepted them.’

  • Wisdom 4:7-15 - ‘A blameless life is ripe old age.’

  • Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9  - ‘The Lord will swallow up death for ever.’

  • Lamentations 3:17-26 - ‘It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.’

  • Daniel 12:1-3 - ‘Those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.’

First Reading from the New Testament
during the Easter Season

  • Acts 10:34-43 - ‘He is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.’

  • Acts 10:34-36, 42-43 - ‘He is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.’

  • Revelation 14:13 - ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.’

  • Revelation 20:11-21:1 

  • Revelation 21:1-5a, 6b-7

Responsorial Psalm

  • Psalm 23(22):1-3a. 3b-4. 5. 6. ±1 or 4ab - The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

  • Psalm 25(24):6, 7cd. 17-18. 20-21. ±1b or 3 - To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 

  • Psalm 27(26):1. 4. 7, 8c, 9a. 13-14. ±1a or 13 - The Lord is my light and my salvation.

  • Psalm 42(41):2. 3. 5b-d. Psalm 43(42):3. 4. 5. ±42(41):3a - My soul is thirsting for the living God.

  • Psalm 63(62):2. 3-4. 5-6. 8-9. ±2b - For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God.

  • Psalm 103(102):8, 10. 13-14. 15-16. 17-18. ±8a or Psalm 37:39a - The Lord is compassionate and gracious.

  • Psalm 116(114-115):5-6. 10-11. 15-16ac. ±9  -  I will walk in the presence of the Lord
    in the land of the living.

  • Psalm 122:1-2. 4-5. 6-7. 8-9. ±1 or cf. 1 - I rejoiced when they said to me,
    ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’

  • Psalm 130(129):1-2. 3-4. 5-6b. 6c-8. ± cf. 1 or cf. 5 - Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. 

  • Psalm 143(142):1-2. 5-6. 7ab, 8ab. 10. ±1a - Listen, O Lord, to my prayer.

Reading from the New Testament

  • Romans 5:5-11 - ‘We have been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.’

  • Romans 5:17-21 - ‘Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.’

  • Romans 6:3-9 - ‘We might walk in newness of life.’

  • Romans 6:3-4, 8-9 - We might walk in newness of life.’

  • Romans 8:14-23 - ‘We wait eagerly for the redemption of our bodies.’

  • Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39 - ‘What can separate us from the love of Christ?’

  • Romans 14:7-9, 10c-12 - ‘Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.’

  • 1 Corinthians 15:20-24a, 25-28 - ‘In Christ shall all be made alive.’

  • 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 - ‘In Christ shall all be made alive.’

  • 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 - ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 - ‘The things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.’

  • 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-10 - ‘We have a house, eternal in the heavens.’

  • Philippians 3:20-21 - ‘He will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.’

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - ‘We will always be with the Lord.’

  • 2 Timothy 2:8-13 - ‘If we have died with him, we will also live with him.’

  • 1 John 3:1-2 - ‘We shall see God as he is.’

  • 1 John 3:14-16 - ‘We have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers and sisters.’

 Acclamation before the Gospel 

  • Cf. Matthew 11:25 

  • Matthew 25:34 3 John 3:16 

  • John 6:39 

  • John 6:40 

  • John 6:51 

  • John 11:25a, 26 

  • Cf. Philippians 3:20 

  • 2 Timothy 2:11-12a 

  • Revelation 1:5a, 6b 

  • Revelation 14:13

Gospel Readings

  • Matthew 5:1-12a - ‘Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.’

  • Matthew 11:25-30 - 'Come to me and I will give you rest.’

  • Matthew 25:1-13 - ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

  • Matthew 25:31-46 - ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.’

  • Mark 15:33-39; 16-1-6 - ‘Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.’

  • Mark 15:33-39 - ‘Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.’

  • Luke 7:11-17 - ‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’

  • Luke 12:35-40 - ‘You also must be ready.’

  • Luke 23:33, 39-43 - ‘Today you will be with me in paradise.’

  • Luke 23:44-46, 50, 52-53; 24:1-6a - ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’

  • Luke 23:44-46, 50, 52-53 - ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’

  • Luke 24:13-35 - ‘Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’

  • Luke 24:13-16, 28-35 - ‘Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’

  • John 5:24-29 - ‘Whoever hears my word and believes has passed from death to life.’

  • John 6:37-40 - ‘Everyone believes in the Son should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’

  • John 6:51-58 - ‘Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life,
    and I will raise him up on the last day.’

  • John 11:17-27 - ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’

  • John 11:21-27 - ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’

  • John 11:32-45 - ‘Lazarus, come out.’

  • John 12:23-28 - ‘If a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it bears much fruit.’

  • John 12:23-26 - ‘If a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it bears much fruit.’

  • John 14:1-6 - ‘In my Father’s house are many rooms.’

  • John 17:24-26 - ‘I desire that they also may be with me where I am.’

  • John 19:17-18, 25-39 - ‘He bowed his head and gave up his spirit.’

Gospel Readings
Acclamatioin before the Gospel
First Readings
Reading from the New Testament
Responsorial Psalm
bottom of page