Through Death to Life: Preparing to Celebrate the Funeral Mass

Book excerpt: More than one million bereaved Catholic families have drawn comfort from the pastoral wisdom of Msgr. Joseph M. Champlin (1930-2008) in Through Death to Life since its original publication in 1979. This leading Catholic funeral planning resource contains all of the approved lectionary readings and other liturgical texts needed to celebrate a funeral Mass. Two distinct numbering systems in the volume coincide with official liturgical books as well as Ave's Funeral Mass and Rite of Committal card set for presiders. This easy-to-use aid is a practical tool for priests, deacons, and lay pastoral ministers as they help grieving Catholics plan the funeral of a loved one. Families can select the readings and prayers that they find most fitting for the Mass and record them on an easy-to-follow selection sheet, which is included with the book. This information is given to the presiding priest or his designate to prepare the funeral liturgy. A comforting pastoral introduction and an appendix explaining Church teaching on the practice of cremation are included.