When a friend of mine lost their mom they sat with the parish music director and asked if they could play “Wind Beneath My Wings” as the casket was carried out. It was an important song for her and while the music director was so kind about it the answer was still no.
She suggested the family play it at the luncheon afterward instead, which she did. It went down great and everyone loved it.
In the church the choir sang “In Paradisum” as she left for the last time. Which didn’t leave anyone with dry eyes.
When it comes to Catholic funeral songs the Funeral Mass has its own rules and if nobody explains them to you it’s easy to make a mistake.
So this will take you through where the music goes, which songs Catholic parishes use and what to do with the songs that don’t fit inside the Mass.
Why Catholic Funeral Music Works Differently
At a lot of funerals the music is mostly about the person who died. It’s usually something chosen that they would have liked or that reflected them – their favorite band, the song from their wedding, something they always hummed or sung along too etc. A Catholic Funeral Mass comes at it from a different angle.
The Church’s ritual book for funerals, the Order of Christian Funerals, asks that the music express what Catholics call the paschal mystery. That means the story of Jesus dying and rising again and the hope that the person you love shares in that.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops also says pretty clearly that popular secular music isn’t suited to the liturgy, even when it meant a lot to the person who died.
That sounds strict when said like that. In practice most parish musicians are kind about it and they’ve had conversations around the topic many times. They’re not trying to take anything away from you.
They just want the Mass to be the Mass. And will usually make the effort to help you find another place for the songs that matter to your family.
There are a few things to know before you start planning:
- Most parishes have a music director or liturgy coordinator who deals with funerals and they’ll probably give you a list of approved songs
- Many parishes don’t allow recorded music during the Mass itself
- Secular songs usually belong at the vigil, the funeral home visitation or the reception
- Rules vary from parish to parish and diocese to diocese so always ask before you print anything
If you’re also working on the readings our guide to Catholic funeral readings goes through the Scripture options and it helps to choose songs that fit with the readings you’ve picked.
Where the Songs Go in a Catholic Funeral Mass
There isn’t just one funeral song but several moments in the Mass where music is played and each one has a different job.
Entrance or Gathering Song
This is sung as the casket is brought into the church and the priest greets the family at the door. The music is hopefu and something the whole congregation can join. “Be Not Afraid”, Holy God, We Praise Thy Name” and “Amazing Grace” are some of the most common choices.
Responsorial Psalm
After the first reading a cantor sings a psalm and everyone answers with a short refrain. The funeral rite gives a set list of psalms to choose from including Psalms 23, 25, 27, 42, 63, 103, 116, 122, 130 and 143. Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd” is far and away the one you will hear most. Your parish musician will usually have a setting they already know well.
Gospel Acclamation
A short sung “Alleluia” before the Gospel. During Lent the Alleluia is dropped and a different acclamation is used instead, which can be a surprise if the funeral is in March or April.
Preparation of the Gifts
While the altar is being prepared there’s a bit of time for a hymn or a solo. A lot of families place “Ave Maria” or “Panis Angelicus” at this point because it’s a moment of quiet, not where everyone needs to be singing.
Communion Song
Communion can take a while at a big funeral so many parishes plan one or even two songs here. Eucharistic hymns like “I Am the Bread of Life” fit naturally and so do songs about God’s care like “Shepherd Me, O God” or “You Are Mine.”
Song of Farewell
This is the center of the whole Mass for a lot of people. After Communion the priest moves to the casket for the Final Commendation.
He sprinkles it with holy water and incenses it while everyone sings a Song of Farewell asking the saints and angels to come and meet the person who died. It’s meant to be sung, not just read, and it’s meant to be simple enough that the church can join in.
Procession or Recessional
As the casket leaves the church the traditional chant is “In Paradisum” which prays that the angels lead the person into paradise. Some parishes use an English hymn instead, maybe something that’s more triumphant to send them off with some hope.
Traditional Catholic Funeral Songs and Hymns
These are the older ones that are a lot of time centuries old. You’ll regularly hear them at Catholic funerals all over the country.
Quite a few of them are in Latin. But don’t let that put you off. They’ll still feel right and cause a lot of emotions.
1. In Paradisum
This is the ancient chant sung as the body leaves the church. It’s short and it has been sung at Catholic funerals for well over a thousand years.
Below is the Latin text with a simple translation so you know what’s being sung:
In paradisum deducant te angeli;
in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres,
et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem.
Chorus angelorum te suscipiat,
et cum Lazaro quondam paupere
aeternam habeas requiem.
May the angels lead you into paradise;
may the martyrs welcome you when you arrive
and bring you into the holy city, Jerusalem.
May the choir of angels welcome you,
and with Lazarus, who once was poor,
may you have eternal rest.
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2. Requiem Aeternam
“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.” That prayer is probably familiar even if the Latin isn’t. It’s the opening chant of the traditional Requiem Mass and some parishes still use it as the entrance chant at funerals. It’s very quiet and very old.
3. Ave Maria
There are two famous versions of Ave Maria. Schubert’s is the one most people picture, which is slow and soaring. The Bach and Gounod version lays a melody over a Bach prelude and has a slightly lighter feel. Most parishes sing it with the Latin text of the Hail Mary prayer. A small number of parishes are fussy about the Schubert because the music was originally written for a poem rather than for church, so it’s worth checking, but in my experience the vast majority say yes without a second thought.
4. Panis Angelicus
The words come from Saint Thomas Aquinas and the best known setting is by César Franck from the 1870s. It’s a hymn about the Eucharist which makes it a good fit at Communion or the preparation of the gifts.
5. Pie Jesu
A short prayer asking Jesus to grant the dead rest. It works well as a solo during the preparation of the gifts or after Communion.
6. Ave Verum Corpus
Mozart wrote this just months before he died. It’s barely three minutes long and it’s beautiful in a really understated way. A parish choir can usually handle it and it fits nicely during Communion.
7. Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen)
The Salve Regina is the old Latin prayer to Mary that’s traditionally sung at the end of the day in monasteries. The English hymn “Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above” is a much more upbeat one too. Either is a beautiful choice for someone who prayed the rosary every night.
8. Immaculate Mary
Sometimes called the Lourdes Hymn. Every Catholic of a certain age knows the “Ave, ave” refrain by heart which means even the people who swear they can’t sing will join in.
9. Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
A big hymn that’s been in Catholic hymnals since the 1800s. It’s a strong entrance or recessional song, especially for someone whose faith was a source of joy rather than just comfort.
10. Amazing Grace
Not Catholic in origin but you’ll hear it at Catholic funerals all the time and parishes almost always allow it. Everyone knows it so it fills the room.
11. The King of Love My Shepherd Is
This is a Victorian hymn version of Psalm 23 set to a lovely Irish melody in many hymnals. If the family loves the Shepherd psalm but wants a hymn rather than the responsorial version this is a good way to have both.
12. Abide With Me
Another one that crosses denominational lines. It’s slow and asks God to stay close as life fades. We cover it in more depth in our guide to funeral hymns, along with a lot of the other classic hymns.
Contemporary Catholic Funeral Songs
These will be the ones families ask for most often today and because they’re still under copyright I have described them rather than print the words. Any parish music director will know every one of them.
13. On Eagle’s Wings
Michael Joncas wrote this in the late 1970s, based on Psalm 91, and it’s about God holding you up and carrying you through. The way the melody builds so that by the last chorus most of the church is singing through tears.
14. Be Not Afraid
Written by Bob Dufford of the St. Louis Jesuits it draws on Isaiah and the Gospels and keeps coming back to the promise that God goes before us. It’s a good entrance song because it sets a tone of trust right from the start.
15. Here I Am, Lord
Dan Schutte’s hymn is really about answering God’s call so it’s a beautiful pick for someone who spent their life serving. It also works well for a priest’s funeral and if you’re writing a tribute for one our eulogy examples for a priest may help.
16. You Are Mine
David Haas wrote this one from God’s point of view speaking words of comfort directly to the listener. It’s quiet and especially lovely at Communion.
17. I Am the Bread of Life
Sister Suzanne Toolan’s hymn is built around Jesus’s promise in John’s Gospel that whoever eats this bread will live forever and it ends with that hopeful “I will raise them up” line that is very fitting for funerals.
18. Shepherd Me, O God
Marty Haugen’s setting of Psalm 23. Some parishes use it as the responsorial psalm itself and others use it during Communion. The refrain is easy to pick up even for people who’ve never heard it.
19. Song of Farewell
There are a few musical settings of the Song of Farewell and the one many American parishes use is by Ernest Sands. It’s sung during the Final Commendation and it asks the choirs of angels to come and greet the person who died. Your parish will probably already have a setting they use every time so this is often one less decision for you to make.
20. Prayer of Saint Francis
Sebastian Temple’s song version of the “Make me a channel of your peace” prayer. Simple and a good fit for someone known for their kindness.
21. Like a Shepherd
Another Bob Dufford piece, drawing on Isaiah and Matthew. It’s tender and reassuring and works well at Communion or as a meditation song.
22. Hosea
This one is quieter and a little less common with the refrain calling us to come back to the Lord. It suits a reflective moment and it’s a good choice for families who want something that you don’t hear at every funeral.
A Sample Music Plan for a Catholic Funeral Mass
Something that can help is an example to show you how it might all go. Below are three to give you a starting point. You can change anything you like and run the final list past your parish.
A traditional plan
Entrance: Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23, The Lord Is My Shepherd
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia
Preparation of the Gifts: Ave Maria (Schubert)
Communion: Panis Angelicus
Song of Farewell: the parish setting
Procession: In Paradisum
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A contemporary plan
Entrance: Be Not Afraid
Responsorial Psalm: Shepherd Me, O God
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia
Preparation of the Gifts: Here I Am, Lord
Communion: I Am the Bread of Life and You Are Mine
Song of Farewell: Song of Farewell (Sands)
Recessional: On Eagle’s Wings
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A plan for someone with a deep devotion to Mary
Entrance: Immaculate Mary
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27, The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia
Preparation of the Gifts: Ave Maria (Bach and Gounod)
Communion: Ave Verum Corpus
Song of Farewell: the parish setting
Procession: Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above
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Once you’ve decided on your songs you’ll want them listed in the order of service. Our funeral program wording examples show how to lay that out so people can follow along.
Catholic Funeral Songs for a Mom or Grandmother
So many of the Catholic women I grew up around had a real devotion to Mary. For them Marian songs feel exactly right. “Ave Maria”, “Immaculate Mary”, “Salve Regina” and “Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above” all honor that devotion.
Catholic Funeral Songs for a Dad or Grandfather
There’s no rule that says certain songs are for men. But I’ve noticed families often go for certain hymns for a father. “Be Not Afraid”, “Here I Am, Lord” and “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name” come up a lot. “On Eagle’s Wings” is a favorite for veterans too and it’s often put with military honors at the graveside. For songs outside the Mass take a look at our funeral songs for dad.
What About Their Favorite Song?
If your dad’s favorite song was “My Way” or your sister loved “Over the Rainbow” the parish will most likely say it can’t be sung during the Funeral Mass. Even classics that feel churchy like “Danny Boy” are usually turned down because they’re secular songs.
That doesn’t mean those songs get left out. But they will have to move.
- The vigil or wake. The vigil service the night before is a natural place for a favorite song, especially during the time when people share memories. Many funeral homes will play recorded music during visitation too.
- A memorial slideshow. Put their favorite song behind the photos at the funeral home. This is where “What a Wonderful World” or some Sinatra really works.
- The reception or luncheon. If you’re hosting our guide to hosting a funeral reception at home covers the rest.
- The graveside. The Rite of Committal is still a church rite, so ask first, but some priests are more relaxed here, especially about a bagpiper or a single instrumental piece.
- Before Mass begins. A few parishes allow instrumental prelude music while people are being seated. Rules vary a lot so check.
For secular ideas that work at these moments our bigger list of funeral songs and our songs for a celebration of life have plenty to choose from.
How to Talk to the Parish About Music
You’ll usually meet with the priest or a funeral coordinator a few days before the Mass and the music director may join or call separately. Things that help:
- Ask for their list first. Most parishes have a sheet of songs their musicians know. Starting there saves you from falling in love with something nobody can play on short notice.
- Bring two or three favorites, not twelve. You don’t need to fill every slot. The musician will happily suggest the rest.
- Mention family musicians early. If a granddaughter wants to sing “Ave Maria” ask right away. Some parishes are fine with it and some prefer their cantor to lead.
- Ask about fees. Organists and cantors are usually paid a stipend. It’s often somewhere between $100 and $200 each, but it varies a lot, and it’s often added to the funeral home bill so you aren’t handed an invoice at the church door.
- Ask about printing lyrics. Most parishes hold a license that covers reprinting hymns in a program, but it’s their license to use. Check before you print words in the order of service.
If you’d rather send your requests in writing this a simple email you can adapt:
Hi Mrs. Delgado,
Father Tom suggested I reach out to you about music for my mother’s funeral Mass on Saturday at 10 a.m. Her name was Margaret Kelly.
Mom had a real love for Mary, so we’d be so grateful if “Ave Maria” and “Immaculate Mary” could be included somewhere in the Mass. We’d also love “On Eagle’s Wings” if that works. We’re very happy to go with your suggestions for everything else.
My niece Clare is a trained soprano and would love to sing “Ave Maria” if that’s allowed. If not, we completely understand.
Thank you for helping us with this. Please let me know what you need from us.
Warmly,
Anne
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And when it’s all over a short note to the musicians means more than you’d think. Our guide on thank you notes to a church after a funeral has wording you can use.
What You Might Have Missed
- Lent changes things. No Alleluia, and some parishes prefer more subdued music during Lent.
- Some days don’t allow a Funeral Mass. A Funeral Mass can’t be celebrated on Holy Thursday, during the Easter Triduum, on holy days of obligation or on Sundays in Advent, Lent and the Easter season. A funeral can still happen without Mass on those days, or the parish may suggest a different day.
- A funeral outside Mass still has music. If the service is a Liturgy of the Word rather than a full Mass, there’s no Communion song, but the entrance song, psalm, Song of Farewell and closing song still apply.
- Cremation doesn’t change the music. If the cremated remains are present, the same songs and the same Song of Farewell are used.
- The organ can carry a lot. If you can’t afford a cantor, many parishes will have the organist play while the congregation sings from the hymnal.
Catholic Funeral Songs FAQ
Can you play secular music at a Catholic funeral?
Not usually during the Funeral Mass. Catholic guidance asks that the music at Mass reflect faith in the resurrection, so popular songs are normally saved for the vigil, the funeral home or the reception. A few parishes are more flexible than others, so it’s always worth asking politely.
Is Ave Maria allowed at a Catholic funeral?
In most parishes, yes. It’s one of the most requested solos and it’s often placed during the preparation of the gifts or after Communion.
What is the most popular Catholic funeral song?
“On Eagle’s Wings” is the one most people name, with “Ave Maria,” “Be Not Afraid” and “Here I Am, Lord” close behind. Among the traditional chants, “In Paradisum” is the classic choice for the end of the Mass.
How many songs are there at a Catholic funeral?
A Funeral Mass typically has five to seven musical moments: an entrance song, the responsorial psalm, the Gospel acclamation, a song during the preparation of the gifts, one or two Communion songs, the Song of Farewell and a closing song or chant.
Can a family member sing at a Catholic funeral?
Often, yes, as long as the song is suitable for the Mass and the parish is comfortable with it. Bring it up at your first planning meeting so the music director can work it in.
Can you use recorded music at a Catholic funeral Mass?
Most parishes prefer live music during the Mass and many don’t allow recordings at all. Recorded music is much more common at the vigil, during visitation at the funeral home and at the reception.
What song is sung when the casket leaves a Catholic church?
Traditionally it’s “In Paradisum,” the chant asking the angels to lead the person into paradise. Some parishes use an English hymn instead, like “On Eagle’s Wings” or “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.”
Final Thoughts
Choosing music for a Catholic funeral can be tricky, as you’ve probably noticed.
So pick the two or three songs that feel like them. Let the parish fill in the rest. And save that favorite song for when everyone’s gathered afterward.
If you’re putting together the rest of the service you might also find our Catholic eulogy examples, prayer card wording examples and prayers for the dead helpful.
