Preparation for Death and

the Burial of the Dead

Prepared for St. Jamesí Episcopal Church

Austin, Texas

The Rev. Dr. Greg Rickel, Rector

The Book of Common Prayer

Throughout this brief description we will be citing page numbers from the service in the Book of Common Prayer.Ý It would be most helpful for you to look at this alongside this document.

Death and Burial in the Episcopal Church:Ý A Theology

Death is a transition that we all will one day experience.Ý It is one of the most certain realities for humans.Ý Many people see death as bleak, as terminal, as the return of flesh to dust.Ý Death is the end of existence and the irreparable loss of those we love.Ý Death is separation from God.Ý All this is real, and truly felt and believed by generation after generation.

For Christians, however, death begins with another reality which is Christís victory over death.Ý Death is a feared enemy however it is revealed as powerless by Christ who is the new life we enter through baptism and death.Ý And so, on the occasion of each individual death, though plunged in grief and sorrow, we find our eternal comfort in the revelation of Christ.Ý It is said best in the Book of Common Prayer on page 507:

The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy.Ý It finds all its meaning in the resurrection.Ý Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised.

The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that ìneither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor hieght, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.î

This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian.Ý The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death.Ý Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend.Ý So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.

From the Holy Baptism service we see this hope in Christ is also articulated when at the end of the Prayers for the Candidates the presider concludes with a prayer ìthat all who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his resurrection.îÝ So, our baptism, while recognizing new life is also our preparation for our death.

As we bury the dead, again we may wear festal vestments of white or gold.Ý Again the Paschal Candle may lead the way into the church and stand at the head of the Nave.Ý Again we proclaim Christís victory over death.Ý Again we may confess the ancient creeds of the Church.Ý Again, surrounded by the vast cloud of witnesses who have gone before us we sing the praises of God and eat the Body and Blood of Christ.

Details of the Funeral or Memorial Service

The best time to plan for a funeral or memorial service is long before it is needed.Ý The forms necessary to do this are part of this booklet and are available in the office.Ý The Rector is available to help you with this.Ý The Rector keeps a file of burial plans and wishes for anyone that desires it.

Reception of the Body.Ý

In a Church which imagines death as a journey, the liturgy of the dead has the character of a series of stations along the way.Ý The stations begin with the ritual preparation for death by eating the Bread of heaven.Ý After death, they continue with prayers beside the body.Ý In some traditions, the singing of psalms and prayers accompanies the washing and dressing of the bodyóa custom strange to most Episcopalians, and Christians for that matter, but commendably Christian in origin.

Ý

The Vigil or Wake

The Vigil, most commonly called the Wake, is a watch over the dead body held by family and friends, usually during the night before burial, which combines elements of prayer, mourning, social reunion, and quite often even frivolity.Ý The Vigil can be held in one of three places, the funeral home, the home of the dead person, or the church.Ý We strongly recommend a Vigil.Ý It is an integral part of the ritual and the grieving process.Ý Please let the Rector know if it is your intent to have a Vigil.

The Rite of Burial (Rite I, pages 469-489 and Rite II, pages 491-505 and An Order for Burial, page 506.

As with Holy Eucharist there are three Rites of Burial in the Book of Common Prayer, Rite I and II, and An Order for Burial.Ý The differences are much the same as with the Eucharistic rites in that Rite I has more traditional language and Rite II more contemporary language. An Order for Burial is an agenda for those occasionsÝ when, for pastoral reasons, neither of the other Rites is deemed appropriate.Ý At St. Jamesí we recommend Rite II be used, whenever appropriate.

The Opening Anthem (Page 461 and 491-92)

Rite I begins with the saying or singing of one or more of four anthems from Scripture.Ý Rite II offers other options such as a hymn, psalm, or other suitable anthem.Ý These may be sung or said.Ý These anthems center us on what we are to be about during the service.Ý Rite II specifically allows the presider to speak briefly to the congregation following the anthem.Ý This is all done in the hopes of making clear that praying for the deceased and the bereaved is an important aspect of the congregationís role at the funeral.Ý

The Collect (page 470 and 493-94)

The Collect is designed to bring us together in prayer and, though different forms with somewhat different focuses exist in the Rites, the most traditional primary focus is the commendation of the departed Christian to God with the prayer for the Church.

The Liturgy of the Word (page 470-480 and 494-496)

The Book of Common Prayer provides a full liturgy of the Word with an Old Testament lesson, a canticle or psalm; a New Testament lesson, followed by a canticle, hymn, or psalm; a Gospel, homily, and the Apostleís Creed.

The Prayers of the People (page 480-81 and 497-98)

The Prayers of the People in each Rite are quite different.Ý The Rite I prayers are more traditional, grand, and all encompassing.Ý The Rite II prayers are far more personal giving place to remember the person by name.Ý They address Christ directly and focus on the person that has died by name.Ý In Rite II there are also two closing collect options reminding us of the baptismal nature of the burial liturgy.

The Eucharist

It is quite appropriate to celebrate the eucharist as part of the burial service.Ý The eucharist should recall Easter with festal vestments and singing.Ý The liturgy calls on all to participate as able.Ý Lay persons, including family and friends, can take part fully and joyfully.Ý Tasks to participate in here are reading lessons and bringing up the offerings of bread and wine.Ý

The CommendationÝ (page 482-84 and 499-500)

The Eucharist ends with the Commendation, a solemn leave-taking and offering of the dead person to God.Ý The presider says the commendatory prayer and then a deacon, if present, says the dismissal.Ý The presider then leads the body out of the church.Ý

The Committal (page 484-87 and 501-03)

This final stage of the liturgy of the dead takes place at the grave.Ý Grave,

in the sense of the Book of Common Prayer, means the resting place of the body in the ground or vault, but it can also mean the repository of ashes.Ý The point is the finality of ìearth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.îÝ This is the last rite and its central and memorable ceremony is the casting of earth upon the coffin, urn, or any other final receptacle.Ý This part of the rite is simple and brief.Ý All those present, beginning with family, should be encouraged to cast earth.Ý This is a sign of putting away the dead, to seal the certainty, that in this life they will never return to us and to begin to piece together the life that remains.

The Lordís Prayer and additional prayers (page 485-86 and 501-02)

The service is brought to a close with the Lordís prayer which has been part of this service since 1552.Ý Additional prayers my be added following the Lordís prayer.

The Concluding Preces and the Dismissal (pages 486-87 and 502-03)

The service concludes with some lines from ancient rites of burial and finally the dismissal which is Easter in nature.Ý It celebrates the raising of Christ and then bids us to go forth in his name.

The Consecration of the Grave (page 487 and 503)

If the grave is in a place that has not previously been set apart for Christian burial, the priest may use the prayer of consecration, either before the service of Committal or at some other convenient time.

Some specifics about burial services at St. James.

Music.Ý As stated above the Burial Office is one that is steeped in the Easter tradition and therefore music for this time tends to commemorate Christís rising from the grave and the joy that is associated with that.Ý The Rector or staff can help you with selecting appropriate hymns for the service.

Conclusion

The death of anyone is a sad occasion.Ý The liturgy and ritual of the Church can make this marking of time a very special moment on the journey of grief.Ý It also provides a very suitable and historic memorial.Ý This booklet is designed to help you prepare for death some time in the distant future or for one that has just occurred.Ý Please feel free to call the Rector to discuss any questions you have at 926-6339.Ý