Suggested Funeral Readings
The following are lists of Scriptures appropriate for use at Catholic Funeral Liturgies. One reading is chosen from each the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Gospels.
Funeral Readings’ Guide – Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel readings included
First Reading – Old Testament
2 Maccabees 12:43-46 “…he made atonement for the dead…”
Job 19:1, 23-27 “…I know that my Vindicator lives….”
Wisdom 3:1-9 “…The souls of the just are in the hand of God…”
Wisdom 3:1-6,9 “…The souls of the just are in the hand of God…”
Wisdom 4:7-15 “The just man, though he die early, shall be at rest…”
Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9 “…he will destroy death forever…”
Lamentations 3:17-26 “…My portion is the Lord, says my soul…”
Daniel 12:1-3 “…the wise shall shine brightly…”
(During the Easter season one of the following readings is used as a first reading instead of a passage from the Old Testament.)
Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43 “Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins”
Acts of the Apostles 10:34-36,42-43 “Everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins”
Revelation 14:13 “…Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord…”
Revelation 20:11-12:1 “…The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades…”
Revelation 21:1-5a,6b-7 “…I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem…”
Second Reading – New Testament
Romans 5:5-11 “…we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son…”
Romans 6:3-9 “…if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall live with him…”
Romans 6:3-4,8-9 “…if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall live with him…”
Romans 8:14-23 “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are Children of God”
Romans 8:31b-35,37-39 “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 14:7-9,10-12 “This is why Christ died and came to life”
1 Corinthians 15:20-28 “In Adam all die, so too if Christ shall all be brought to life.”
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 “In Adam all die, so too if Christ shall all be brought to life.”
1 Corinthians 15:51-57 “Death where is your victory?”
2 Corinthians 4:14-5:1 “The One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us…”
2 Corinthians 5:1,6-10 “We would rather leave the body and go home…”
Philippians 3:20-21 “He will change our lowly body…”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “If we believe that Jesus died and rose…”
2 Timothy 2:8-13 “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead…”
1 John 3:1-2 “Beloved, we are God’s children now…”
1 John 3:14-16 “We know that we have passed from death to life…”
Gospel
Matthew 5:1-12a “The Eight Beatitudes”
Matthew 11:25-30 “Come to me . . . and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 25:1-13 “Behold, the bridegroom comes. Come out to meet him”
Matthew 25:31-46 “Come, you who are blessed by my Father”
Mark 15:33-39 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Luke 12:35-40 “Be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,…”
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 commend my spirit”
Luke 24:13-35 “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer…”
Luke 24:13-16,28-35 “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer…”
John 5:24-29 “Whoever hears my word and believes has passed from…”
John 6:37-40 “…everyone who see the Son and believes in him may have eternal life…”
John 6:51-59 “…whoever eats this bread will live forever….”
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 “…unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies…”
John 12:23-26 “…unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies…”
John 14:1-6 “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.”
John 17:24-26 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me…”
John 19:17-18,25-39 “And bowing his head, he handed over the Spirit.”