Catholic funeral hymns are chosen for a set place in the Mass. There is an entrance hymn, a psalm, a hymn at the offertory, one at communion, a song of farewell and a recessional. This guide lists thirty Catholic funeral hymns and songs, traditional and newer, and shows where each one goes, so that you can sit down with the priest or the choir with a list ready.
How music works at a Catholic funeral
A Catholic funeral is an act of worship. The music is part of the prayer, and it speaks of Christ's death and resurrection and the hope of eternal life. That is why the Church asks for sacred music during the Mass, and why the choice is made with the priest or the parish music director.
Three things follow from this.
- Ask the parish first. Many parishes have their own list of funeral hymns. The choir or organist may know some hymns and not others.
- Songs from the radio usually wait. A favourite song that is not sacred is normally kept for the vigil, the graveside or the reception.
- The people sing. Choose at least some hymns that the congregation knows, so that everyone can take part.
Where the songs go in a Catholic funeral Mass
There are six main places for music. The parts of the Mass itself, such as the Holy, Holy and the Lamb of God, are also sung, and the choir will choose those.
Entrance hymn
Sung as the coffin is received and brought into the church. It should gather people and speak of hope. Common choices: Be Not Afraid, Amazing Grace, Lead, Kindly Light, Nearer, My God, to Thee, Praise to the Holiest in the Height.
Responsorial psalm
Sung after the first reading, with a line that the people repeat. Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd", is chosen most often. Psalm 27, "The Lord is my light and my salvation", and Psalm 130, "Out of the depths", are also used.
Offertory hymn
Sung while the bread and wine are brought to the altar. Common choices: Ave Maria, Soul of My Saviour, Make Me a Channel of Your Peace, Here I Am, Lord.
Communion hymn
Sung as people receive communion. It is usually about the Eucharist or about Christ as shepherd. Common choices: Panis Angelicus, I Am the Bread of Life, Sweet Sacrament Divine, The King of Love My Shepherd Is.
Song of farewell
Sung at the final commendation, when the priest sprinkles the coffin with holy water and incenses it. The usual words are "Saints of God, come to his aid" or "May the choirs of angels come to greet you".
Recessional hymn
Sung as the coffin leaves the church. The old chant for this moment is In Paradisum, "May the angels lead you into paradise". Other choices: Holy God, We Praise Thy Name, On Eagle's Wings, How Great Thou Art, Hail, Queen of Heaven.
Traditional Catholic funeral hymns
1. In Paradisum
"May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome you." The ancient chant sung as the body leaves the church. It may be sung in Latin or in English.
2. Ave Maria
The Hail Mary set to music. The settings by Schubert and by Gounod are the best known. It is often sung by a soloist at the offertory or after communion.
3. Panis Angelicus
"Bread of angels." Words by Saint Thomas Aquinas, in the well known setting by César Franck. A communion hymn.
4. Soul of My Saviour
"Soul of my Saviour, sanctify my breast." A communion hymn based on the old prayer Anima Christi. It is loved in Ireland, Britain and across Africa.
5. Sweet Sacrament Divine
A gentle communion hymn by Francis Stanfield. It asks for peace and rest in the presence of Christ.
6. Hail, Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star
A hymn to Our Lady asking her to "pray for the wanderer, pray for me". Often chosen for a mother or grandmother who prayed the rosary.
7. Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above
The Salve Regina in English verse. A bright hymn to Our Lady, often used as a recessional.
8. Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
A strong hymn of praise that most Catholics know by heart. A good recessional after a long and faithful life.
9. Faith of Our Fathers
Frederick Faber's hymn of 1849 about keeping the faith to the end. Often chosen for a father or grandfather, a catechist or a member of a church society.
10. Lead, Kindly Light
Written in 1833 by John Henry Newman, who later became a Catholic cardinal and is now a saint. A prayer to be led one step at a time. Words to Lead, Kindly Light
11. Praise to the Holiest in the Height
Also by Newman, from 1865. A strong entrance or recessional hymn.
12. Nearer, My God, to Thee
Drawing closer to God through suffering. Sung in many churches, and well known to Catholic congregations. Words to Nearer, My God, to Thee
13. The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Psalm 23 in verse, by Henry Baker, 1868. It suits communion or the psalm.
14. Abide with Me
A prayer for God to stay close as evening falls. Words to Abide with Me
15. Amazing Grace
Known by everyone, which makes it a good entrance hymn when many guests are not Catholic. Words to Amazing Grace
16. Pie Jesu
"Merciful Jesus, grant them rest." A short prayer from the Requiem, usually sung by a soloist. The setting by Fauré is the best known.
17. Ave Verum Corpus
A short communion motet. Mozart's setting is often sung by a choir.
18. Jesus, Remember Me
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." A short chant from Taizé, repeated quietly. It works well at communion or at the farewell.
Newer Catholic funeral songs
These were written after 1960 and are sung in parishes around the world. All are still in copyright, so print the title and not the words, unless your parish holds a licence.
19. On Eagle's Wings
"And He will raise you up on eagle's wings." Based on Psalm 91, by Michael Joncas, 1979. Perhaps the most requested Catholic funeral song of the last forty years.
20. Be Not Afraid
"Be not afraid, I go before you always." Bob Dufford, 1975. A common entrance hymn.
21. Here I Am, Lord
"I, the Lord of sea and sky." Dan Schutte, 1981. A hymn of answering God's call, often chosen for someone who served others.
22. I Am the Bread of Life
"And I will raise him up on the last day." Suzanne Toolan, 1966. A communion hymn taken from the Gospel of John.
23. You Are Mine
"Do not be afraid, I am with you." David Haas, 1991.
24. Shepherd Me, O God
A setting of Psalm 23 by Marty Haugen, 1986. It can serve as the responsorial psalm.
25. Song of Farewell
"May the choirs of angels come to greet you." Ernest Sands, 1990. Written for the final commendation.
26. Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
The Prayer of Saint Francis, set by Sebastian Temple, 1967. It ends "in dying that we're born to eternal life".
27. How Great Thou Art
A hymn of wonder that ends with the hope of being taken home. Sung by Catholics and Protestants alike.
28. Christ Be Our Light
Bernadette Farrell, 1993. "Longing for light, we wait in darkness."
29. Gift of Finest Wheat
"You satisfy the hungry heart." A communion hymn from 1976.
30. Lord, You Have Come to the Seashore
Known in Spanish as Pescador de Hombres. Cesáreo Gabaráin, 1979. Loved in Spanish-speaking and Polish parishes.
A sample music plan for a funeral Mass
Here are two plans, one traditional and one newer. Either can be changed hymn by hymn.
Traditional
- Entrance: Lead, Kindly Light
- Psalm: The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23)
- Offertory: Ave Maria
- Communion: Soul of My Saviour, then Panis Angelicus
- Farewell: Saints of God, Come to His Aid
- Recessional: In Paradisum, then Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
Newer
- Entrance: Be Not Afraid
- Psalm: Shepherd Me, O God
- Offertory: Here I Am, Lord
- Communion: I Am the Bread of Life
- Farewell: Song of Farewell
- Recessional: On Eagle's Wings
Catholic funeral hymns for a mother or a father
- For a mother or grandmother: Ave Maria, Hail, Queen of Heaven, Hail, Holy Queen, Soul of My Saviour. Hymns to Our Lady are a natural choice for a woman who was devoted to her.
- For a father or grandfather: Faith of Our Fathers, Be Not Afraid, Here I Am, Lord, Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.
What about their favourite song?
If the song they loved is not a hymn, it still has a place. Most parishes are glad for it to be played at one of these moments.
- At the vigil or wake, the evening before
- At the graveside, after the prayers of committal
- At the reception afterwards
Ask the priest. He will tell you what his parish allows.
How to print the hymns in the order of service
List each hymn under its place in the Mass, for example "Entrance hymn: Be Not Afraid". Old hymns such as Soul of My Saviour, Faith of Our Fathers and Lead, Kindly Light are out of copyright and may be printed in full. For newer songs, print the title only, or ask the parish whether its licence covers printing the words.
Print the people's responses too, such as the line of the psalm that everyone repeats. It helps guests who are not Catholic to take part.
Questions people ask
What is the most popular Catholic funeral hymn?
On Eagle's Wings, Be Not Afraid and Ave Maria are the most requested. Among older hymns, Soul of My Saviour and Lead, Kindly Light are sung very widely.
How many hymns are there at a Catholic funeral Mass?
Usually four or five hymns chosen by the family: entrance, offertory, communion and recessional, and sometimes a second communion hymn. The psalm and the song of farewell are also sung.
Can you play secular music at a Catholic funeral?
Not usually during the Mass. The Church asks that music in the liturgy be sacred. A favourite song can be played at the vigil, at the graveside or at the reception. Ask the priest what his parish allows.
Is Ave Maria allowed at a Catholic funeral?
In most parishes, yes. It is commonly sung at the offertory or after communion. A few parishes keep it for before the Mass begins, so check first.
What is sung when the coffin leaves a Catholic church?
The traditional chant is In Paradisum, "May the angels lead you into paradise". Many families follow it with a hymn that everyone can sing, such as Holy God, We Praise Thy Name or On Eagle's Wings.
Can a family member sing at a Catholic funeral?
Often, yes, if they can sing the piece well and the parish music director agrees. Ask early, so that they can practise with the organist.
Beside the hymns
For the whole order, see the Catholic funeral Mass order of service. For hymns sung in every church, see funeral hymns. For the readings, see Catholic funeral Mass readings.
Build the order of service with Homegoing
Homegoing starts you with the order of a Catholic funeral Mass, with a place for each hymn. You add your choices, the readers and the responses, and the booklet is set out for printing. Your priest approves the order before it goes to print. Start a programme